A favorite Halloween treat for many people could be hiding a dark secret.
According to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, caramel-covered apples should always be kept stored at refrigerated temperatures.
Candy apples that have not been stored in cool temperatures could be a breeding ground for the bacteria that cause listeriosis. Most people suffering from this infection only experience unpleasant symptoms like fever, muscle aches, and nausea but those who are elderly, pregnant, or dealing with weakened immune systems are at risk for death.
A few years ago, 35 people from 12 states were infected with the cause traced back to caramel apples. Anyone who purchases or prepares candy apples this Halloween season should make sure they have been refrigerated at a safe temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
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