PEOPLE ASKED TO AVOID CONSUMING AMERICAN APPLES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, January 29 (Antara) - Indonesian consumers are asked to avoid consuming Granny Smith and Gala apples as the fruits which are imported from the United States are found to have been contaminated by the deadly Listeria Monocytogenes bacteria.          "Consumers must avoid eating apples of these types as they have been found to be contaminated by Listeria bacteria which is very dangerous to health," Jakarta Health Service Head Koesmedi Priharto said on Wednesday.          He said that he had not yet received any reports on significant cases where people become victims after consuming the apples. "The impact it might cause is serious. It could cause vomiting, diarrhea and nausea," said Koesmedi.          Indonesia has banned the importation of the American apples on January 26, 2015 while the United States has also stopped exporting it, yet these types of apples are still found in some markets across the country.           The government drug and food watchdog BPOM said it has found apples imported from the United States contaminated with the deadly bacteria of Listeria monocytogenes in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi province.         In  Bengkulu, Sumatra, the BPOM has also confiscated 44 kilograms of imported American Granny Smith and Royal Gala apples after they were found contaminated by the Listeria Monocytogenes bacteria, BPOM's Bengkulu chief Zulkifli said.         "The distributor had no stock; we found them at a fruit dealer's and a Hypermart department store," Zulkifli stated during a field inspection by BPOM  on Wednesday.         He noted that the imported American apples will be examined in a laboratory for the presence of the dangerous bacteria.         "Although BPOM officers conducted an inspection of the largest apple distributor in this province, they did not find any bacteria-contaminated apple. However, they have found some contaminated ones at a department and a retail store," he added    The health officials in Bengkalis District, Riau Province of Sumatra also found the two types of apples on sale in fruit shops. The Industry and Health Service discovered Granny Smith and Gala apples during its inspection in the fields.         "Pending the examinations by the quarantine, we ask that the apples should not be sold," Raja Airlangga of  Bengkalis's External Trade Service, said on Thursday.         In Madiun, East Java, the Industry and Trade Service discovered 25 kg of imported American apples contaminated with the listeria bacteria. The officials found the apples when they launch an operation on Thursday.         "During the operations we found two kinds of apples namely the Granny Smith and Royal Gala types. We asked traders to withdraw the fruit and stop selling it which was imported from the United States," Suprijadi, the head of consumer protection section of the Industry and Trade Service said.         Therefore, field operations are being conducted by the government and traders' associations to clean listeria contaminated fruits from the markets across the country.         Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel said Thursday the government and traders' association are searching markets to find imported apples from the United States contaminated by the Listeria Monocytogenes bacteria.          "The market sweeping is ongoing," said Rahmat, adding that the government will soon announce the result of the sweeping activity.          According to the minister, the contaminated apples from California, US, were contaminated during its packaging process and not on the farm.          The Indonesian Trade Ministry banned the import of apples from the United States, especially those packed in Bidart Bros, Bakersfield, California, due to the alleged contamination by Listeria Monocytogenes bacteria.          The Trade Ministry's Director General of Standardization and Consumer Protection Widodo said traders who have already imported the apples are not allowed to distribute it to the market.          According to the Ministry of Health, it has not yet received any reports on an extraordinary poisoning incident after consuming the apples.          The ministry in its press statement on Tuesday said M Subuh, the director general for disease control and sanitation, reported that no cases have occurred in Indonesia such as the case in the United States which killed several victims and infected tens of others.          Apples were believed to be the source of infection by the Listeria bacteria which could cause a fatal and serious infection for infant, children, ailing people, the elderly and people with week body immunity.          In the meantime, the United States Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake echoed his country's serious concerns regarding the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria being detected in the apples exported from the United States to Indonesia.          "The United States government is seriously concerned about the imported apple case. The Indonesian government has stopped the import and is handling the problem at the grassroots level," Blake affirmed on Wednesday, (Jan. 28).          According to Blake, the United States also lauded the Indonesian government's regulations and efforts to stop the distribution of apples that have already reached several regions in Indonesia.          Blake appealed to the Indonesian people to not worry about the apples from the United States as not all apples from the country are contaminated with those bacteria.          "The United States respects the Indonesian government's policy relating to the import of apples. However, not all varieties of apples from the country are dangerous," Blake stated.***4*** (T.A014/H-YH) (T.A014/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 29-01-2015 23:07:1