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.