30 October 2023 , 14:08
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Brits are being warned about a popular Halloween treat that could cause serious illness.
Nutritionist Tom Wood, from world exercise and diet site Fitness Volt, has advised people to avoid eating toffee apples, known by some elsewhere in the world as candy or caramel apples, due to listeria.
"Growing up I used to love candy apples, but unfortunately they aren't safe to eat," he claimed. "There is a pathogen called listeria monocytogenes that naturally occurs in soil and it can contaminate the apples during the harvesting process."
He added: "The listeria can live on the skin of the apple and when the apple is punctured with the wooden skewers that we use to eat them, this can then push the Listeria from the outside of the apple into the core. The inside of the apple is juicy, and sugary and has everything the listeria pathogen needs to survive and grow quickly.
Listeriosis is a serious condition that can cause mild symptoms to death. It's especially dangerous for young children, the elderly, people with chronic conditions and pregnant women. Although the risk can be low of catching it, Tom says: "When you then eat the apple, you can become very sick... There is a wide range of symptoms for listeriosis and they can last for days to several weeks depending on the severity of the illness."
The Food Standards Agency advises "refrigerated storage and shelf life are key food safety controls to prevent listeria growth". Tom said that for anyone who has listeria, it can cause just minor symptoms in some but could also lead to death in some cases, reported BristolLive.
He said: "Minor symptoms can include muscle aches, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. Whereas severe symptoms can cause stiffness, confusion, convulsions and death. In pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage and stillbirth, and babies born with a listeriosis infection can have lifelong health conditions.
"Due to the wide range of symptoms, if you suspect yourself having a listeria monocytogenes infection you should see a health care professional right away and let them know what food you have consumed. Typically, listeriosis symptoms can begin anywhere from nine to 48 hours after eating contaminated food, but the bacteria can live up to six weeks inside your intestines."
The nutritionist warned that while apples and caramel are safe on their own, when combined they can cause a serious health risk. "It's only when they combine they cause a problem," he said. "When you mix apples and caramel, the gap between them can encourage the growth of listeria monocytogenes because the space will contain moisture. If a skewer is inserted into the apple, any harmful bacteria can then grow quickly."
According to the NHS, listeriosis is usually caught by eating food contaminated with listeria bacteria. Listeria can contaminate a wide variety of foods, but most infections come from eating chilled, ready-to-eat foods, such as:
- cold, cooked sliced meats and cured meats
- smoked and cured fish – including in sushi
- cooked shellfish
- soft mould-ripened cheeses (such as camembert and brie) and blue-veined cheeses
- pâté
- pre-prepared sandwiches and salads
- pre-cut fruit (such as pre-packed melon slices)
- unpasteurised milk
- dairy products made from unpasteurised milk
These foods don't always cause listeriosis. If you've eaten them recently, there's no need to worry unless you start showing symptoms of the infection.
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