Caramel Apples Could Kill You if Not Eaten Soon After They Are Made

Halloween is coming up and a favorite is caramel apples, here is how to keep them safe to eat for your Halloween festivities.

According to ABC News, seven people died last year from a Listeria outbreak caused by caramel apples.

With that in mind, the University of Wisconsin has been studying them to try to figure out why they are such good breeding grounds for bacteria.

They found that dipping an apple in hot caramel doesn't kill all the bacteria on its skin.  In fact, it adds a nice insulated layer for bacteria to grow and multiply.  It's especially bad if the apples are kept refrigerated for a long time after they're made.

Bacteria can also form around the stick you shoved into the apple if they get enough time.

Scientists say if you wash your apples really well before you dip them in caramel, and then eat them within a few days, you'll probably be safe from Listeria.  Once they sit for weeks or longer, they enter the danger zone.