The importer of Granny Smith and Gala apples from Bidart Brothers, Bakersfield in California, USA, is currently recalling all fruits from the local market, Deputy Health Minister Hilmi Yahya said this evening.

Nevertheless, Hilmi said, the people need not have any fear in buying other types of apples sold in the market after the two types of apples were claimed to be tainted with 'Listeria Monocytegenes' bacteria.

"The company concerned is currently in the process of recalling both types of apples from throughout the country and if there are traders still selling them, do report to us," he told reporters after launching a Post-Floods Blood and Organ Donation Programme at the Kota Bahru Polytechnic in the Kelantan state capital.

Hilmi said both the health and agriculture and agro-based industry ministries were carrying out checks nationwide.

Yesterday, the health ministry seized 19,960 Gala and Granny Smith apples imported from the US, worth RM82,000, in Kuching and Sibu, Sarawak, following the 'Listeria Monocytegenes' bacteria scare.

Earlier today, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam ( left ) said the ministry has been directed to take samples of the Gala and Granny Smith apples in Sarawak suspected to be tainted with the bacteria for testing.

As a precautionary measure, Subramaniam said, the state department has been told to take the samples following an initial check which showed one or two importing companies in Sarawak could have imported tainted apples from the United States.

"At the same time, I have asked the ministry’s food quality and safety division to hold discussions with the agriculture attache from the US Embassy to ensure we obtain detailed information on the apples exported from their country to our country.

"Apples detected with the bacteria is confined to only one state in the US, which has many farms producing apples and, up to now, the ministry is still looking at whether Malaysia is getting any tainted apples from that place," Subramaniam told reporters after a working visit to the Kemaman Hospital today.

Also present were Terengganu Health deputy director Dr Mohamad Nor and district health officer Dr Mohd Anuar Abdul Rahman.

Yesterday the ministry consficated 19,960 Gala and Granny Smith apples imported from the US worth RM82,000 in Kuching and Sibu, Sarawak, after apples marketed by Bidart Brothers in Bakersfield, California were suspected to be contaminated with the bacteria that could cause death.

Any queries can be forwarded to the ministry through the nearest district health office or state health department via website   or  Facebook .

- Bernama