BERA: Malaysia will stop the import of apples from United States which were tainted with Listeriosis bacteria, says Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said the ministry had received a notice from the US authorities that the Gala and Granny Smith apples from California were suspected to be tainted with the bacteria.
"The ministry will stop the import of the affected apples while the Health Ministry will check those already in the local market," he said here today.
Apples suspected to be tainted with Listeriosis bacteria were reported to have caused several deaths and made many people fall sick in US and Canada.
Consumption of the contaminated apples could cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea and in severe cases, death.