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Malaysia bans Gala, Granny Smith apples from the USA

Nicfoo

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Nicfoo

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Singapore claims no import of such apples, those buying apples take note. I just bought some gala apples from Sheng Siong, label is like french apples, but cannot find such labels online..LOL

BERA - Malaysia has stopped the import of two brands of apples from California because of fears that they could be tainted with the Listeriosis bacteria, reported Malaysian media.

Agriculture minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the ministry had received a notice from the US authorities that the Gala red apples and Granny Smith green apples from California were suspected to be contaminated with the bacteria, reported New Straits Times.

"The ministry will stop the import of the affected apples while the Health Ministry will check those already in the local market," he said on Saturday. He added that his ministry had no jurisdiction to recall apples that were already in Malaysia as this involved food nutrition, which is regulated by the Health Ministry.

Malaysia's Health Ministry said it had conducted tests on the apples from California-based Bidart Bros at all entry points in Malaysia. The ministry's director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry had identified two importers of the apples in Malaysia, and had directed them to recall the apples.

Consumption of food tainted with the bacteria could cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea and in severe cases, death.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore told Zaobao in comments published on Sunday that Singapore does not import the affected batches of apples from the US.

In Thailand, local authorities have already seized a shipment of US apples from the 2014 harvest, and health officials are examining shipments at agriculture shipment checkpoints in the country, the Bangkok Post reported. The Philippines, too, has issued advisories recalling imported Gala and Granny Smith apples from the US, reported Xinhua news agency.

Bidart Bros said the last shipment date of the affected apples was on Dec 2, reported Los Angeles Times.

The affected apples were sold under the names Big Big and Granny’s Best, but the company says they could also be sold under other brand names, or with no name. Consumers were being advised to ask fruit sellers if their Granny Smith or Gala apples came from Bidart Bros.

The US Food and Drug Administration found two strains of Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that causes listeriosis, at the company's processing plant in Bakersfield. It has determined that the plant was a supplier of the contaminated apples used to make the affected caramel apples, reported Los Angeles Times.

The packaged caramel apples were at the centre of a recent listeria outbreak that resulted in the deaths of several people in the US.

- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/us-gala-granny-smith-apples-now-barred-malaysia-20150118#sthash.BRuH02N6.dpuf

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Nicfoo

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I remember seeing apples (selling in SS) from USA, NZ, SA, and china, but cannot tell which is from where.

 

I think is good to share so those like me, not sure which apple from where, may want to ask before buying, or avoid for the time being..LOL

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Camrysfa

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Thailand also got apple recall from the US FDA.

Wonder why SG is not affected.

 

Anyway, the Thais said their US apple are ok and ,,,

  • Mr Prapon, however, commented that the possibility of infection of Listeriosis in the Kingdom is low as most Thai consumers wash and peel apples before consumption which minimises infection.
  • To be on the safe side, it is recommended that apples be washed with clean water for 2-3 minutes and peeled.

 

Hmm, we use to see in movies the westerner just pick an apple rub it on his shirt and start eating.

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Nicfoo

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from this report, it seem like quite safe, top 3 apple imports come from PRC, SA and NZ.

 

 

By Cheryl Faith Wee The Straits Times Sunday, Nov 30, 2014

- See more at: http://www.soshiok.com/content/poland-turns-new-markets-its-apples#sthash.Tp8Oemhb.dpuf

You can now take a bite out of apples from Poland, the biggest exporter of the fruit.

Polish apples are now on sale at FairPrice Xtra supermarkets after the European country started shipping them here last week.

Poland's turn to new markets such as Singapore comes after Russia, which bought 56 per cent of its apple exports last year, started banning agricultural produce from places such as the United States and European Union in August. This was in retaliation against Western sanctions imposed on it over the Ukraine crisis.

Polish ambassador in Singapore Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz said: "The ban is one of the reasons we have to reconsider our export strategy, but it is not the only reason. Our government has ambitious plans to expand exports overseas."

This marks the first time Polish apples are sold in Singapore, said the Embassy of the Republic of Poland. The country of about 38 million people exports 1.2 million tonnes of apples a year to more than 30 countries.

There are also talks between Polish suppliers and local importers to bring in vegetables like carrots, onions and potatoes, said the ambassador. Polish chocolate, biscuits, pasta and jams are already sold in stores here.

Mr Victor Chai, a director in FairPrice's purchasing and merchandising department, said the chain decided to sell apples from Poland to offer greater variety and diversify supply sources.

"As we have only just started bringing them in, the quantity is relatively small and we will monitor customers' reception."

The popular varieties at FairPrice are from China, which supplies the chain with about 60 per cent of its apples. Fuji apples from China typically cost $3.95 for five at FairPrice supermarkets. From today to Sunday, the Polish apples will be sold at all seven FairPrice Xtra outlets at $4.25 for a 1kg bag. The usual price is $4.95.

According to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, the top three countries of import for apples last year were China, South Africa and New Zealand.

Mr Tan Chin Hian, vice-chairman of the Singapore Fruits & Vegetables Importers & Exporters Association, said: "Singaporeans tend to like big (apples) which are sweet, with a good-looking appearance."

Supplier Hupco is one of two importers which have started supplying Polish apples here.

Its director, Mr Daniel Tay, said: "Poland has apple varieties which other countries don't have. We're bringing in the Prince variety because it has a unique taste, with a sweet-sour flavour that is quite distinct. We have already placed orders for the next batch

- See more at: http://www.soshiok.com/content/poland-turns-new-markets-its-apples#sthash.Tp8Oemhb.dpuf

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Nicfoo

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Saw these apples in SS this morning, wonder how on earth these can get onto the shelf. They were not even there last week.

 

Guys please buy with your eyes wide open,

 

 

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Nicfoo

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Not all gala and Smith apples are from US...

 

Bro, look again. They are from USA!!! Look at the label and the price label, I am not so stupid to not know that.

 

OK, no mention if they are from California though, maybe they are from NY, so not affected.

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Evillusion

Evillusion

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Bro, look again. They are from USA!!! Look at the label and the price label, I am not so stupid to not know that.

 

OK, no mention if they are from California though, maybe they are from NY, so not affected.

wahlao....AVA epic fail. Say no have those apple in Singapore but SS selling!😪😪😪
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Nicfoo

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wahlao....AVA epic fail. Say no have those apple in Singapore but SS selling!😪😪😪

 

 

yah, either AVA or SS sleeping!!! WTF!!!

 

MY banned, Thailand intercepted shipment, and here we are, quietly selling in the supermarkets. I am quite sure these are new product lines in SS, I go there every week and never see such fruits till this morning..

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Evillusion

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yah, either AVA or SS sleeping!!! WTF!!!

 

MY banned, Thailand intercepted shipment, and here we are, quietly selling in the supermarkets. I am quite sure these are new product lines in SS, I go there every week and never see such fruits till this morning..

Maybe they took in rejects from MY.....hahahaha. I was always told it was the other way round😷😷😷.
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Nicfoo

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Maybe they took in rejects from MY.....hahahaha. I was always told it was the other way round😷😷😷.

 

Maybe the container going to Thailand ended up at our port..LOL

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Ben5266

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Bro, look again. They are from USA!!! Look at the label and the price label, I am not so stupid to not know that.

 

OK, no mention if they are from California though, maybe they are from NY, so not affected.

Maybe this apple is also made in China, design in California...

 

:D

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