Canada-wide pistachio recall linked to ongoing salmonella outbreak widens

An Canadian Food Inspection Agency sign is shown in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 26, 2019.

The nation-wide recall of pistachios and pistachio-containing products linked to an ongoing salmonella outbreak has been expanded to now include a total of 314 products.

The most recent recalled products were sold and distributed in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia and B.C., according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recall notice.

Consumers are asked to verify if they have recalled products and to not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute if they do, the notice says.

• READ MORE: More than 300 pistachio products now recalled in ongoing salmonella outbreak
• READ MORE: Here’s why salmonella-contaminated pistachios continue to plague Canadians

The CFIA advises consumers to discard or return the recalled products to the location where they were purchased and to contact a health-care provider if they believe they are sick from consuming them.

According to the CFIA, retail and food service businesses across Canada that could have the affected products include grocery and convenience stores, bakeries, chocolatiers, ice creameries, hotels, restaurants, institutional food services and other businesses that use pistachios as an ingredient.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s ongoing salmonella outbreak investigation, there have been 24 reported hospitalizations from salmonella and 155 cases of the foodborne bacterial illness as of Dec. 30 - 77 in Quebec, 58 in Ontario, nine in B.C., seven in Alberta, three in Manitoba and one in New Brunswick.

Symptoms associated with salmonella can include chills, fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea, according to the agency.

The onset of symptoms typically begin within six to 72 hours after exposure, with most symptoms ending within four to seven days, the agency added.

The national pistachio recall linked to the salmonella outbreak was first published in July for the Habibi brand Pistachio Kernel.

According to the CFIA, the pistachios involved in the current recalls were imported from Iran.

As a result, the CFIA has implemented temporary measures to reduce the risk of salmonella contamination, including a temporary ban and updated licence conditions for businesses that import Iranian pistachio products and prepare products in Canada using these Iranian pistachios.

As the CFIA’s food safety investigation is ongoing, they ask consumers to stay current on additional products that may be recalled.