Two people in Canada have tested positive for the same strain of Listeria monocytogenes that has killed five people and sickened 29 in the U.S. and been linked to caramel apples. The situation prompted a warning on Tuesday from the Public Health Agency of Canada that potentially contaminated caramel apples may have been imported to Canada. The cases have occurred in Ontario and Manitoba. Investigators in Canada are still working to determine if the illnesses resulted from consumption of store-bought, prepackaged caramel apples, as they apparently did in the U.S. cases. “As a precaution, the Public Health Agency of Canada is advising that Canadians do not eat commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples imported from the US until further notice,” the warning reads. The warning is for plain caramel apples, as well as those containing nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, or other toppings. Canadian officials say they’re working closely with U.S. counterparts to determine if any potentially contaminated products were distributed in Canada. Based on current information, the risk of infection to Canadians is low, they said.
