This picture taken on Dec.聽12, 2014, shows apples at a market in Rungis, France. AFP
MANILA, Philippines鈥擳he United States (US) Embassy on Friday said no fresh apples shipped from the US have been linked to an outbreak of Listeria, a bacteria found in contaminated food which causes Listeriosis.
鈥淣o US fresh apples have been linked to the outbreak of Listeria,鈥� the US Embassy said in a statement.
鈥淎ccording to the US Food and Drug Administration the harmful bacteria Listeria monocytogenes has thus far only been linked to commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples made from apples using Bidart Brothers Apples located in California,鈥� the statement said.
鈥淭he FDA has also stated that the growing season for these types of apples has ended and the firm鈥檚 last shipping date was Dec. 2, 2014. Bidart Brothers is no longer shipping apples,鈥� it added.
The US Embassy said the recall of US apples by California-based supplier Bidart Brothers was 鈥渧oluntary鈥� and limited to those packed by the said supplier.
On Jan. 10, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found Listeria on the samples of Granny Smith and Gala apples from Bidart Brothers.
Following the findings, the Philippine government ordered the recall of Granny Smith and Gala apples from the US after the apples were associated with Listeriosis in the United States.