US, Canada - Outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-...ao-cream-kadayif-due-salmonella-contamination


World Market Recalls Emek Spread Pistachio Cacao Cream with Kadayif Due to Salmonella Contamination


Summary

Company Announcement Date:
July 14, 2025
FDA Publish Date:
July 14, 2025
Product Type:
Food & Beverages
Foodborne Illness
Reason for Announcement:
Salmonella
Company Name:
World Market
Brand Name:
Emek
Product Description:
Spread Pistachio Cacao Cream with Kadayif

Company Announcement

Alameda, CA, July 14, 2025 – World Market is recalling EMEK SPREAD PISTACHIO CACAO CREAM WITH KADAYIF, 9.7oz, Best Before: April 01, 2027, Batch Number: 250401 due to a potential contamination of Salmonella.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The firm initiated the recall after samples of the product were tested by the FDA and the products tested positive for Salmonella.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

See attached photos for ease of identifying the product. Products affected are:

PRODUCT


SIZE


LOT/MFG CODES


UPC


USE BY DATE

Emek Spread Pistachio Cacao
Cream with Kadayif


9.7 oz


BATCH NO: 250401


8 69652 10130 1


BEST BEFORE
APRIL 01 2027

The products were distributed between June 11 to July 9, 2025. The product is packaged in clear glass jar with the date code etched on the top of the lid. The product is sold primarily in World Market retail stores located in the States of: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA & WI.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or they may discard the product. Consumers with questions may contact Customer Service at 877.967.5362 Sunday – Saturday 7:00 am – 12:00 am EST.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.
Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Customer Service
877.967.5362


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Public health notice: Outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products



August 5, 2025: Original Notice

This outbreak investigation is ongoing. The public health notice will be updated as the investigation evolves.

At a glance

Do not consume, use, sell, serve or distribute recalled pistachios and pistachio-containing products. For details on recalled product brand names and lot codes, please consult the Recalls and Safety Alerts website.

The recalled pistachios may have been used and sold in baked goods.

(screenshot)

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• At a glance
• Recalled food
• How to protect your health
• Symptoms
• Investigation summary
• Contact us

Recalled food


Recall warnings have been issued for various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products from brands:

• Habibi
• Al Mokhtar Food Centre
• Dubai

These products were distributed to:

• Ontario
• Quebec

Dubai brand pistachio & knafeh milk chocolate bars were also available to purchase online.

The recalled pistachios may have been used and sold in baked goods.

For more information on the recalled products, including all product names, descriptions and lot codes, please consult the CFIA's notices on the Recalls and Safety Alerts website.

Habibi brand Pistachio Kernel recalled due to Salmonella

Al Mokhtar Food Centre brand Pistachio recalled due to Salmonella

Dubai brand Pistachio & Knafeh Milk Chocolate recalled due to Salmonella

How to protect your health

Salmonellosis is a foodborne bacterial illness that can affect anyone exposed to a contaminated food product.

People who are infected with Salmonella bacteria can spread Salmonella to other people several days to several weeks after they have become infected, even if they don't have symptoms.

The following advice applies to individuals, as well as retailers, distributors and food service establishments such as grocery stores, pharmacies, bakeries and cafes across Canada:

• Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home or establishment by looking for the specific product name and size, UPC and codes in the recall alerts.
• Do not consume, serve, use, sell or distribute recalled products or any product made with them.
• Throw out or return recalled products to the location where they were purchased. Consumers or establishments who are unsure if they have purchased the recalled products are advised to contact their retailer or supplier where the products were purchased.
• Do not cook food for other people if you've been diagnosed with a Salmonella infection or any other gastrointestinal illness.
• Contact your health care provider if you think you're experiencing symptoms of Salmonella.

Most people who become ill from a Salmonella infection will recover fully after a few days without treatment, but it can also cause severe illness and hospitalization.

Those at higher risk for serious illness include:

• older adults
• young children
• people who are pregnant
• people with weakened immune systems

Symptoms

Salmonellosis has a wide range of symptoms. You may not get sick at all. However, if you do get sick, symptoms usually start within 6 to 72 hours after exposure.

You may experience:

• chills
• a fever
• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• stomach cramps
• a sudden headache

Most symptoms end within 4 to 7 days.

While most people recover completely on their own, some people may have a more serious illness that:

• requires hospital care
• may lead to long-lasting health effects or death

Salmonellosis (Salmonella)

Food safety for vulnerable populations

Investigation summary


There are 52 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella Havana and Salmonella Mbandaka illness linked to this outbreak in:

• British Columbia (3)
• Manitoba (1)
• Ontario (9)
• Quebec (39)

People became sick between early March and mid-July 2025. Of the cases reported, nine people have been hospitalized and there have been no deaths. People who became sick are between 2 and 89 years of age. The majority of sick individuals are female (75%).

Many people who became sick reported eating pistachios, and products containing pistachios, such as Dubai-style chocolate. The outbreak strains of Salmonella that made people sick were found in samples of the recalled Habibi brand pistachios. The investigation is ongoing and it is possible that additional sources may be identified.

More recent illnesses may continue to be reported because there is a period between when a person becomes sick and when the illness is reported to public health officials. It can take more than a month from the time someone gets sick, sees a doctor, gets tested, and has their results confirmed. For this outbreak, the illness reporting period is between 15 and 55 days after illness onset. 

This notice only includes laboratory-confirmed cases. The actual number of sick people in Canada is likely much higher. Many people have mild symptoms and don't go to the doctor, so they aren't tested. Researchers estimate that for each case of Salmonella reported to public health, there are 26 more cases that are not reported.

This outbreak may not be limited to the provinces with known illnesses. The recalled products were distributed to:

• Ontario
• Quebec

Dubai brand pistachio & knafeh milk chocolate bars were also available to purchase online.

For more details on distribution please consult CFIA's notices on the Recalls and Safety Alerts website.

Timeline of illnesses

(screenshot)

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Figure 1 - Text description
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Related links

• Habibi brand Pistachio Kernel recalled due to Salmonella
• Al Mokhtar Food Centre brand Pistachio recalled due to Salmonella
• Dubai brand Pistachio & Knafeh Milk Chocolate recalled due to Salmonella
• Risks of salmonellosis (Salmonella)
• Safe food handling practices
• Email subscription service for Public Health Notices
• Recall subscription service

Contact us


Public Health Agency of Canada
Media Relations
Telephone: 613-957-2983
Email:media@hc-sc.gc.ca

Public inquiries
Telephone: 1-866-225-0709 (toll-free)
Email: info@hc-sc.gc.ca Page details

Date modified: 2025-08-05​

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-hea...a-infections-pistachios-related-products.html

 

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Translation Google

Contaminated pistachios The Public Health Agency of Canada expects to report additional cases of salmonellosis

(Toronto) The Public Health Agency of Canada expects to report additional cases of salmonella linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products in the coming months, adding to the dozens of infections already confirmed in four provinces.

Posted yesterday at 6:16 p.m.
Hannah Alberga
The Canadian Press

On Tuesday, the federal agency said 52 people had become ill after eating contaminated pistachios and baked goods containing the nut.

These cases include 39 people in Quebec, nine in Ontario, three in British Columbia and one in Manitoba.

Nine people were hospitalized.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled Habibi, Al Mokhtar Food Centre and Dubai brand products distributed in Ontario and Quebec and sold online to consumers across Canada.

These products include Chocolate Dubai, a treat that has gone viral thanks to its decadent combination of milk chocolate, melting pistachio cream, and crispy knafeh, a sweet pastry.

The chocolate bar became famous on TikTok in 2023 when influencers filmed themselves tasting the candy, originally created in the United Arab Emirates. This popularity spawned similar products and prompted numerous reviews and recipes on food blogs.

April Hexemer, director of outbreak management at the public health agency, said she expects an increase in salmonella case reports because of the lag between illnesses being reported and confirmed by health officials.

She said it takes between 15 and 55 days to identify a case, as the patient must see a doctor and undergo testing to determine if their infection is linked to the outbreak.

"It will be some time before we can declare the end of this epidemic," the director warned in an interview Wednesday.

She added that authorities estimate there are 26 additional cases for every confirmed infection.

"Some people have a milder illness and don't seek medical help. Or, if they do, they may not get a lab test," Hexemer explained .

She said it was too early to say whether other products containing pistachios would be recalled, or whether investigators could determine the origin of the outbreak. It was also too early to explain why 75% of the cases involved women between the ages of 2 and 89.

Salmonella is a foodborne bacterial illness that can spread for days or even weeks after infection, even if there are no symptoms. It can cause serious and potentially fatal infections, especially in children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, cramps, and diarrhea. These symptoms typically appear six to 72 hours after exposure and resolve within a week.

The Food Inspection Agency encourages consumers to check the brand and product codes listed on the recall notice and to discard or return products that match the description.

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/...d-a-signaler-d-autres-cas-de-salmonellose.php

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...-in-salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-pistachios/

More brands of Dubai chocolate recalled in salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios
By The Canadian Press
Published: August 14, 2025 at 8:29PM EDT​
More recalls have been issued for a popular type of chocolate after a salmonella outbreak linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says several additional brands of Dubai pistachio and knafeh milk chocolate have been recalled.

The brands are Chocofolie, Chocolato, Chocolats Favoris, Dubai and Vincent Sélection.

The agency says the products were distributed in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and online...

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[Pathfinder]

Various pistachio-containing products recalled due to Salmonella


Last updated
2025-08-26

Summary

Product Pistachio-containing products
Issue Food - Microbial contamination - Salmonella
What to do Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute recalled products
Distribution Online Ontario

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None	Petit Four Cookies	Variable - clerk served	None	Sold from June 12 to July 15 inclusively	Sold at La Brioche, 866 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
None	Baklava (including cream filled)	Variable - clerk served	None	Sold from June 12 to July 15 inclusively	Sold at La Brioche, 866 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
None	Strawberry Cheesecake	Variable - clerk served	None	Sold from June 12 to July 15 inclusively	Sold at La Brioche, 866 Bank St., Ottawa, ON
None	Knafeh Dubai Chocolate Вars	Variable - clerk served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Dubai Chocolate Leaves	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Dubai Chocolate Cup	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Dubai Chocolate Heart	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Dubai Chocolate Log	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Arabesque (Pistachio + Vanilla Ganache)	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Kunafa Bites	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Dubai Chocolate Dates	Sold individually or in groups of 2, 4,6,8,10,15 (Variety)	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Pistachio Dates	Sold individually or in groups of 2, 4,6,8,10,15 (Variety)	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Pistachio Kernels	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Mixed Truffles Chocolate	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Pistachio Chocolate	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Milk Chocolate filled with Pistachio Cream	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Dark Chocolate filled with Pistachio Cream	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Ruby Chocolate Bar Pistachio	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Ruby Chocolate Bar Mixed Nuts	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	White Chocolate Bar Pistachio	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	White Chocolate Bar Mixed Nuts	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Milk Chocolate Bar Pistachio	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Milk Chocolate Bar Mixed Nuts	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Chocolate Marbles Mixed	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Milk Chocolate Marbles with Nuts	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Dark 71 Chocolate Marbles with Nuts	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON
None	Dark 54 Chocolate Marbles with Nuts	Variable - clerk-served	None	Sold from April 23, 2025 to May 23, 2025, inclusive	Sold at: 1) Pistachio Choco, 1666 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON and 2) Pistachio Choco, 50 Rideau St, Unit #306, Ottawa, ON

Issue


The affected products are being recalled from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.

This recall is linked to an ongoing investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak. Please refer to the Food Safety Investigation page for further details and related recall notifications and food recall warnings.
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https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/e...blefield-node-77923-field_affected_products-0


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[Pathfinder]

Public health notice: Outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products

September 15, 2025: Update​

This outbreak investigation is ongoing. The public health notice will be updated as the investigation evolves.

At a glance

Do not consume, use, sell, serve or distribute recalled pistachios and pistachio-containing products. Refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) Food Safety Investigation page for the full list of recalled products.
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Investigation summary

There are 79 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella Havana, Salmonella Mbandaka, Salmonella Meleagridis and Salmonella Tennessee illness linked to this outbreak in:

• British Columbia (5)
• Manitoba (1)
• Ontario (17)
• Quebec (55)
• New Brunswick (1)

People became sick between early March and mid-August 2025. Of the cases reported, 11 people have been hospitalized and there have been no deaths. People who became sick are between 2 and 89 years of age. The majority of sick individuals are female (78%).

Many people who became sick reported eating pistachios, and products containing pistachios, such as Dubai-style chocolate and pastry products. The outbreak strains of Salmonella that made people sick were found in samples of the recalled Habibi brand pistachios and samples of the recalled Dubai brand Pistachio & Knafeh Milk Chocolate. The investigation is ongoing and it is possible that additional sources may be identified.

More recent illnesses may continue to be reported because there is a period between when a person becomes sick and when the illness is reported to public health officials. It can take more than a month from the time someone gets sick, sees a doctor, gets tested, and has their results confirmed. For this outbreak, the illness reporting period is between 15 and 99 days after illness onset.

This notice only includes laboratory-confirmed cases. The actual number of sick people in Canada is likely much higher. Many people have mild symptoms and don't go to the doctor, so they aren't tested. Researchers estimate that for each case of Salmonella reported to public health, there are 26 more cases that are not reported. Timeline of illnesses Figure 1 shows when the people in this outbreak got sick. Outbreak investigators use this information to show when illnesses begin, when they peak, and when they trail off. Data is available for 79 cases.

Figure 1: Number of people infected with Salmonella Havana, Salmonella Mbandaka, Salmonella Meleagridis, Salmonella Tennes
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https://www.canada.ca/en/public-hea...a-infections-pistachios-related-products.html

 

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Public health notice: Outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products


September 24, 2025: Update
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https://www.canada.ca/en/public-hea...a-infections-pistachios-related-products.html

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Protecting Canadians during Salmonella outbreak: Canadian Food Inspection Agency temporarily bans imported pistachio products from Iran

From: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

News release

September 27, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario

Today, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced it will implement a temporary restriction on imports of pistachios and pistachio-containing products from Iran as a precautionary measure to protect Canadians from the risk of Salmonella infection. In addition, as a condition of their Safe Food for Canadians licence, all importers of pistachios and pistachio containing products will be required to show proof that these products do not originate from Iran in order to be accepted into Canada. Shipments will be subjected to a hold and test for Salmonella or refused entry if importers do not provide this proof.

An outbreak investigation is ongoing, led by the Public Health Agency of Canada, with more than 100 laboratory-confirmed Salmonella infections in Canada and numerous food recall notifications linked to pistachio kernels and products originating from Iran.

These measures will remain in place while the CFIA analyzes information from the food safety investigation, ongoing surveillance and inspections of importers.

The CFIA will continue to conduct inspection activities to verify compliance. If all federal requirements are not met, importers could face enforcement actions, such as administrative monetary penalties, licence suspension or cancellation, or prosecution.
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https://www.canada.ca/en/food-inspe...ns-imported-pistachio-products-from-iran.html

 

[Pathfinder]

Public health notice: Outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products


October 21, 2025: Update

This outbreak investigation is ongoing. The public health notice will be updated as the investigation evolves.

At a glance


Do not consume, use, sell, serve or distribute recalled pistachios and pistachio-containing products. Refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) Food Safety Investigation page for a list of recalled products.
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https://www.canada.ca/en/public-hea...a-infections-pistachios-related-products.html

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/11557404/canada-pistachio-recalls-grow-salmonella-outbreak-increase/

Canada puts new restrictions on pistachios from Iran amid salmonella outbreak
By Sean Previl Global News
Posted December 3, 2025 1:10 pm
Updated December 3, 2025 3:17 pm


​More people have become ill from salmonella due to an outbreak linked to some brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products from Iran, prompting new restrictions on imports of the nut.

As of Dec. 2, the Public Health Agency of Canada says there are now 155 lab-confirmed cases of salmonella infections across six provinces, with the majority found in Ontario and Quebec.

Other infections have been confirmed in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick.

The illness has impacted people from one to 95, with 70 per cent of cases among women and a total of 24 people hospitalized.

“We’re looking at quite a lot of illness associated with this event,” said April Hexemer, director of the outbreak management division at PHAC. “It is a concerning event and that is why we’ve issued this new advice. We’re trying very hard to control it and to put an end to it.”​

More people have become ill from salmonella due to an outbreak linked to some brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products from Iran, prompting new restrictions on imports of the nut.

As of Dec. 2, the Public Health Agency of Canada says there are now 155 lab-confirmed cases of salmonella infections across six provinces, with the majority found in Ontario and Quebec.

Other infections have been confirmed in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick.

The illness has impacted people from one to 95, with 70 per cent of cases among women and a total of 24 people hospitalized.

“We’re looking at quite a lot of illness associated with this event,” said April Hexemer, director of the outbreak management division at PHAC. “It is a concerning event and that is why we’ve issued this new advice. We’re trying very hard to control it and to put an end to it.”​...

 

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Translation Google

Cases of salmonellosis

Quebec caught up in its love of pistachios

It has been illegal to import Iranian pistachios into Canada for more than four months.

Even though importing Iranian pistachios into Canada has been prohibited for over four months, the number of recalls and cases of salmonella continues to rise. And Quebec is by far the hardest-hit province. Struggling with the sudden popularity of pistachios and their long shelf life, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), embroiled in an unprecedented food safety investigation, is finding it difficult to contain the outbreak.

Published at 5:00 AMShare
Ariane Krol
La Presse

At least 166 people in Canada have become ill after eating salmonella-contaminated Iranian pistachios, half of them in Quebec, according to the latest data published by the CFIA.

Salmonella can manifest dramatically, with vomiting, diarrhea, or fever. But people with mild symptoms often don't seek medical attention and therefore don't get tested. For every case reported, 26 others go unreported, according to the federal agency.

The ongoing outbreak has fortunately not resulted in any deaths. In Quebec, a quarter of those infected have been hospitalized, according to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS), based on the 73 cases for which information is available.

On July 25, the CFIA issued its first recall of pistachios contaminated with Salmonella bacteria . Since then, it has issued dozens more. In Quebec alone, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) has issued more than 150 advisories against consuming pistachios or products containing them. Of these, 66 were published in January, when the importation of pistachios from Iran was banned at the end of September – those from other countries are still permitted.


"This is one of the largest food safety investigations conducted by the CFIA in recent years," the agency told us by email.

Our request for an interview regarding this investigation has, however, gone unanswered.

"Other secondary recalls are possible," the CFIA wrote to us, however, referring to the "long shelf life" of pistachios.

"Pistachios can be stored for up to two years," confirms Lawrence Goodridge, professor and director of the Canadian Food Safety Research Institute at the University of Guelph.

Green trend

But why so many victims in Quebec?

"It's probably related to the supply chain and who eats what," says Jennifer Ronholm, a professor in McGill University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.


Dubai-style chocolates, filled with pistachio, have made the small green ingredient fashionable. Pistachio has been named "flavor of 2025" by the American magazine Food & Wine .

The trend effect may also have contributed to the scale of the explosion. Since Dubai-style chocolate, filled with pistachio, set social media ablaze in 2023, the green ingredient has been flavoring a host of recipes.

This could partly explain why Quebec is more affected, suggests Professor Julie Jean.

We are more open to different culinary cultures, to trying different things. […] We are going to use pistachio as an ingredient that is becoming popular in the making of pastries, fine chocolates, all sorts of things.
Julie Jean, professor at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at Laval University

On September 27, the CFIA banned the importation of pistachios from Iran and products containing them. On December 2, it added requirements for companies that had imported such foods during the previous two years.

“We all have a responsibility when products are recalled,” emphasizes Ms. Jean . “Those who possess such products must check if they are affected by the recall […] in order to remove them from the market and the processing chain.”

Unprecedented!

As holder of the Canada Research Chair in Agricultural Microbiology, Ms. Ronholm is struck by the fact that 13 types of salmonella are implicated in this outbreak. "I've never seen or read anything like it [...]. I'd like to know what happened!"

This could stem from unsanitary transport or storage conditions, she said, emphasizing that it was merely a hypothesis. "Probably with a lot of rodents or birds [...], I just can't imagine how you could have so many serovars [serotypes] otherwise."

Staff shortages?

At the end of January, two CFIA unions denounced job cuts that they said were being prepared at the agency.

"The CFIA has been understaffed for years and has not been able to perform its usual tasks, let alone additional ones," says Milton Dyck, president of the Farmers' Union, which represents about 4,000 employees.

The CFIA did not respond to our request for comment.

“We need better traceability […] to remove contaminated food faster so that people don’t consume it. If you take away funds and positions, it means that improvements are not in the plans since you will have less staff,” laments Mr. Goodridge.

In mid-January, the CFIA had identified 82 cases of salmonella in Quebec. An 83rd case has since been added, the MSSS told us.

Even if a pistachio-based product is not subject to a recall, it is "more prudent to avoid this product if it comes from Iran" or "if the country of origin cannot be confirmed," advises the CFIA in its public notice of December 2.

With Pierre-André Normandin and Stéphanie Bérubé, La Presse

Consult the CFIA's "What you need to know"

The story so far
July 27, 2025: The CFIA publishes a first recall of pistachios intended for hotels, restaurants and institutions in Quebec and Ontario.
September 27, 2025: After more than 100 cases of salmonella confirmed by Canadian laboratories, the CFIA bans the importation of pistachios from Iran.
December 2, 2025: The CFIA adds new requirements regarding Iranian pistachios and products containing them imported into Canada in the two years preceding September 27.
January 15, 2026: At least 166 cases of salmonella have been confirmed in Canada, including 82 in Quebec, the CFIA announced. More cases could be added, as up to 99 days can pass between the time a person becomes ill and the time their test results are reported to Public Health, the agency noted.


https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/...bec-rattrape-par-son-amour-de-la-pistache.php

 

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

Salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios Nearly 200 cases recorded in one year

(Toronto) The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says its investigation into a salmonella outbreak linked to pistachio consumption is continuing, one year after the first case was reported.

Published yesterday at 7:28 PM
Hannah Alberga
The Canadian Press

An update published Monday by the Agency shows that people continue to fall ill, with cases reported as recently as last month.

She specifies that 26 people have been hospitalized and that the number of cases has risen to 189 since March 2025.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued dozens of product recalls involving various brands of pistachios and products containing pistachios.

This includes raw pistachios, as well as Dubai chocolate or biscuits with mixtures of dried fruit and pistachios.

Canadians are advised not to consume pistachios imported from Iran, and the CFIA put in place a ban on imports from that country in September, stating that these measures would remain in effect while the investigation continued.

Cases of the illness have been reported in six provinces, including 88 in Quebec and 74 in Ontario, as well as in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick.

Most people who get sick recover completely on their own, but a salmonella infection can be serious for young children, people over 60, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women. Common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and chills.


https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/...staches/pres-de-200-cas-recenses-en-un-an.php
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Public health notice: Outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products

April 13, 2026: Update

This outbreak investigation is ongoing. The public health notice will be updated as the investigation evolves.​

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​ Investigation summary


There are 189 laboratory-confirmed cases linked to this outbreak in:

• British Columbia (14)
• Alberta (9)
• Manitoba (3)
• Ontario (74)
• Quebec (88)
• New Brunswick (1)

Cases have become ill with multiple types of Salmonella, including:

• Salmonella Agona
• Salmonella Anatum
• Salmonella Bareilly
• Salmonella Branderup
• Salmonella Corvallis
• Salmonella Havana
• Salmonella Kottbus
• Salmonella Mbandaka
• Salmonella Meleagridis
• Salmonella Ohio
• Salmonella Reading
• Salmonella Senftenberg
• Salmonella Tennessee

People became sick between early March 2025 and mid-March 2026. Of the cases reported, 26 people have been hospitalized and there have been no deaths. People who became sick are between 1 and 95 years of age. The majority of sick individuals are female (70%).

Many people who became sick reported eating pistachios and products containing pistachios, such as Dubai-style chocolate, pastry products (including baklava, knafeh and cake), nut mixes, ice cream and items made with pistachio cream (including pizza and sandwiches). The outbreak strains of Salmonella that made people sick were found in samples of recalled pistachios and samples of the recalled Dubai-style chocolate. The investigation is ongoing and it is possible that additional sources may be identified.

More recent illnesses may continue to be reported because there is a period between when a person becomes sick and when the illness is reported to public health officials. It can take more than a month from the time someone gets sick, sees a doctor, gets tested, and has their results confirmed. For this outbreak, the illness reporting period is between 12 and 99 days after illness onset.

This notice only includes laboratory-confirmed cases. The actual number of sick people in Canada is likely much higher. Many people have mild symptoms and don't go to the doctor, so they aren't tested. Researchers estimate that for each case of Salmonella reported to public health, there are 26 more cases that are not reported.

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https://www.canada.ca/en/public-hea...a-infections-pistachios-related-products.html
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