The potentially poisonous seasonal treat: scientists warn over toffee apples

If you thought suffering a broken tooth was the worst that could happen when eating a toffee apple, you might be surprised to learn a more frightening concern over the seasonal treat. Caramel-coated apples can be riddled with listeria - a potentially deadly bacteria that causes diarrhoea, vomiting and, rarely, meningitis - warn scientists. However, it is the stick, rather than the food, that allows the bug to thrive. Inserting the stick into the apple causes juice to leak and creates a layer of moisture under the caramel, which becomes a breeding ground, according to new research. Published by the online journal mBio, the study came after an outbreak of listeria food poisoning, in which 35 people in the US became infected in the autumn and winter of 2014. To be safe, people are advised to eat toffee apples fresh, store them in the fridge, or make sure they have been refrigerated before buying them.