TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The recent finding of Granny Smith and Gala apples from the United States that are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria has prompted the Agriculture Ministry to check some samples of the apples in the market.

“We have taken samples of Granny Smith and Gala apples in the market and checked them in Bogor Agricultural University’s laboratory,” said Yusni Emilia Harahap, the director general for processing and marketing of agricultural products at the Agriculture Ministry, on Tuesday.

Yusni said the results of the lab testing would come out on January 30, 2015. She further said the government must be careful and take precautions because since July last year, Indonesia has imported 16,610 tons of fresh apples from the United States. However, there has been no reported case of Listeria monocytogenes infection in Indonesia.

The Trade Ministry has banned the sales of Granny Smith and Gala apples from the United States as Listeria monocytogenes can cause fatal infection on infants, children, ailing people and the elderly, as well as people with weak immune system.

PINGIT ARIA | ALI HIDAYAT