Caramel Apples Are Killing People, No Halloween Joke

They are so delicious but caramel apples are killing people (7 last year) and making others very ill.  Before you eat one or let you kids have them this Halloween, think twice.

Caramel apples are a breeding ground for bacteria.  Studies show that dipping an apple in molting caramel doesn't kill all the bacteria, in fact, it adds the perfect insulation for them to grow.  And if you thought refrigerating them helped, it actually worse.  The longer caramel apples are refrigerated, the more bacteria will multiply.

Bacteria will be especially popular around the area you shove in the stick.

Experts suggest you wash your apples really well before you dip them AND EAT THEM WITHIN A FEW DAYS.  Caramel apples that sit for over a week could cause Listeria.

[Via:  ABC News]