DENPASAR ~

Department of Industry and Trade (Desperindag) of Bali prohibits the sale of apples imported from the United States as predicted containing harmful bacteria called “Listeria monocytogenes”.

“It should be immediately withdrawn from the market because it has been tested and is found bacteria “monocytogene listeria, “said Head of Industry and Trade of Bali Ni Wayan Kusumawathi in Denpasar on Wednesday.

Apples imported from the United States are the “granny smith” and “gala” packed from Bidart Bros, California, which both red and green.

The team intensively visits a number of supermarkets, traditional markets and fruit shops to remind traders and managers not to sell those types of apple.

In the inspection, a number of samples were taken to be tested in laboratory.

He requested traders especially for the two types of apples to draw the apple products from the market. If there are managers or traders who still sell those apples, Kusumawathi explained that she and her team will take firm action in accordance with applicable regulations.

“We will do something based on the regulation,” she said.

Granny Smith apple prices in modern fruit shop is around Rp47 thousand per kilogram, while the type of gala apples sold Rp54 thousand per kilogram.

Information from the pages of Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), bacteria “Listeria monocytogenes” is a pathogen bacterial that can cause poisoning with symptoms may include gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, vomiting, pain accompanied by fever.

Symptoms may progress to more serious in patients who have low immunity, elderly patients and may cause miscarriage in pregnant women.