U.S. apple listeria hysteria spreads in South East Asia
What began as a domestic issue to contain a listeria outbreak has taken on international proportions, with more Asian countries taking a tough stance against U.S. apples. 
California-based Bidart Brothers voluntarily recalled its Granny Smith and Gala apples on Jan. 6, after environmental tests revealed contamination at the company's apple-packing facility in Bakersfield.
The fruit was linked to the production of prepackaged caramel apples.
Just over a week after the recall was announced, concerns started to be raised in the Malaysian press about whether consumers in the South East Asian country could be infected. In response, the Malaysian Ministry of Health announced it would conduct a "hold, test, release" on the importation of Gala and Granny Smith apples from Bidart.
"In the domestic market, the Ministry has identified two importers who have imported these apples from the Bidart Brothers and have instructed them to recall all these apples from the trade, and the other apples in their cold room have been quarantined. The Ministry of Health is working closely with the US-FDA on this matter," the Ministry said.
California Apple Commission (CAC) director of trade and technical affairs Todd Sanders told www.freshfruitportal.com only Bidart apples had been recalled in Malaysia.
"All other varieties and shipments from other areas are okay," he said, adding that unfortunately the government was subjecting U.S. apples to more scrutiny because of the outbreak.
News agency Xinhua reported the Philippines had also recalled imported Gala and Granny Smith apples from the U.S.
After these two countries took a position on the potentially deadly fruit, the Vietnam Food Administration also ordered a recall, website Tuoitrenews.vn reported.
The publication said the decision was made after the Vietnamese authority was warned about the contaminated products by the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN).
However, the administration affirmed no tainted apples had been imported into Vietnam to date.
Photo: CDC
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