Packages of apple slices, commonly included in kid’s meals at McDonald’s and Burger King, are part of a large recall of sliced and diced apples due to their possible exposure to Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeria monocytogenes has the potential to cause a “serious or life‐threatening food borne illness in a person who eats a food item contaminated with it,” according to a statement issued by the company which processed the apples, Missa Bay, LLC, and the FDA. Symptoms of an infection can include a fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea, said the statement. Most at risk are pregnant women and adults with compromised immune systems.
According to Missa Bay, there have been no illnesses reported in relation to the recalled apples. The recall was initiated after Listeria monocytogenes was found on machines the company was using to process the apples.
The packaged apples were sold under a variety of brand names – not just McDonald’s and Burger King – and have ‘use by’ dates between July 8, 2012 through August 20, 2012. The recalled packages of apples were distributed in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
Note: not all the McDonald’s and Burger Kings in the above states are affected by the recall. A full list of the brands and packaging, along with UPC codes and distribution points, has been made available on the company’s site. The recall also includes certain packages branded under the names Wawa, Wegman’s, Hannaford, Safeway Farms and Ready Pac.
McDonald’s released a statement saying they removed all affected Missa Bay products from their restaurants as soon as they were notified of a potential issue. They have posted a list of McDonald’s branded products, and what states affected restaurants are in, here. In addition to the apple slices in their kids meal, McDonald’s also stated that the apples were included in their ‘Snack Size Fruit and Walnut Salad’ and ‘Diced apples for Fruit and Maple Oatmeal’ menu items.
Burger King does not have any details of the recall available through their website’s homepage at the time this story is being published.
In all, “293,488 cases and 296,224 individually distributed units of fruit, vegetable, and sandwich products containing apples” are included in the recall, according to the company. They are asking shoppers who purchased the recalled products to record the UPC code and/or use-by date, then dispose of the item and call them at 1-800‐800-7822, Monday – Friday, 8am to 5pm, Pacific Time, for a full refund.
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