Dive Brief:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the deadly listeria outbreak sweeping the nation has been traced to commercially produced caramel apples.
- Five people have died and 28 were sickened, including three children who developed meningitis.
- Health officials in Minnesota, where the outbreak was first detected, said contaminated products have been traced to three retailers: Cub Foods, Kwik Trip, and Mike’s Discount Foods. Brand names include Carnival and Kitchen Cravings. Investigators warn that more brands and stores may be named in the investigation.
Dive Insight:
Few foods evoke childhood to the same degree as the caramel apple. That same food, however, also evokes a particular place and time - carnivals and festivals and fairgrounds during the summer. That likely limited the number of people exposed to the deadly toxin.