The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned consumers of eating prepackaged caramel apples, following the death of four people and hospitalization of 26 people across 10 states who all ate the sweet delight.

The outbreak began in mid-October. Although demand for caramel apples is at the highest during Halloween, the CDC issued the warning on Friday since some stock may still be on stores because its shelf life could be at least one month.

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The CDC has looked into 28 cases with the same strain of the bacteria illness listeria that caused 26 people to be hospitalized and five deaths, of which four were due to listeriosis and one due to a listeria strain linked to the product. It said 83 percent of those who became sick said they ate the prepackaged caramel apples.

Symptoms of listeria include diarrhea, fever, nausea, stiff neck, loss of balance, convulsion and muscle ache. Healthy people with listeria often become better with antibiotics, but those vulnerable to listeria are pregnant women, newborn infants, older people and patients with compromised immune systems.

AP reports that the victims from Minnesota bought their caramel apples from Cub Foods, Kwik Trip and Mike's Discount Foods which sold the brands Carnival and Kitchen Cravings.

Two of those who died were from Minnesota, while the other two were from Texas and California. Other than those three states, those hospitalized are from Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

Since the CDC is still finding out the source of the contamination, it specifically pointed to caramel apples with toppings such as nuts, chocolates or sprinkles as the ones to avoid eating.

An average of 1,600 cases of listeriosis occur in the U.S. annually, while those who die because of the ailment average 260 per year, said the CDC.

Tagscaramel apple, listeria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention