Canadian food inspectors recall more pistachio products linked to national salmonella outbreak

Several pistachio-containing products have been recalled in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick after health inspectors linked them to a salmonella outbreak. (CFIA)

More pistachio products linked to a national salmonella outbreak that has sickened 62 people, including 10 who were hospitalized, have been recalled in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.

In three separate recalls issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), 10 items containing pistachios were identified due to possible salmonella contamination and members of the public were advised not to consume, use, sell, serve or distribute them.

Eight of the 10 products recalled were sold in Ontario at a marketplace in Mississauga (Shamyat Cuisine, 4141 Dixie Road) between June 1 and June 30. They include various brands of pistachio baklava and ice cream.

The CFIA said Dubai brand Pistachio & Knafeh Milk Chocolate, a style of chocolate bar that has become increasingly trendy in recent months, was also recalled and sold online in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.

Chocofolie brand “Chocolat Dubaï - chocolat au lait kunafa & pistache,” which was sold in Quebec, is also being pulled.

“If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider,” the news releases read.

Officials said anyone who purchased the products is asked to throw them out or return them.

“Food contaminated with salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick,” the CFIA wrote in its advisory, noting that young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections.

“Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.”

Recalls linked to national salmonella outbreak

The recall is linked to a national investigation into various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products that have been recalled due an outbreak of salmonella infections in recent months.

So far, 62 cases of salmonella across Canada, including 45 infections in Quebec, five in British Colombia, and 1 in Manitoba, have been linked to the outbreak. At least 10 of those people were hospitalized, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), which is looking into the human cases of the outbreak, said.

The PHAC said that the illness reporting period for this outbreak is between 15 and 55 days after symptom onset, which means that more infections may yet to be reported.

“It can take more than a month from the time someone gets sick, sees a doctor, gets tested, and has their results confirmed,” officials said.

On Wednesday, the CFIA issued a recall for pistachio-containing products sold at another Mississauga marketplace, Soltan Bakery at 109-808 Britannia Rd., due to possible salmonella contamination.