Salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios has reached Manitoba

Amy Proulx, former Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspector, discusses reasons behind the multiple recalls of pistachios and products containing the nuts.

An outbreak of salmonella infections linked to pistachios has made its way to Manitoba.

According to a recent update from the Public Health Agency of Canada, three illnesses have been reported in Manitoba – all linked to various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products.

This comes following a July recall notice for Habibi brand Pistachio Kernel due to salmonella contamination. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), issued further recalls for various products made using the recalled pistachios.

So far, the CFIA has issued nearly 70 recall notices for pistachio products. The full list of recalls can be found here.

The CFIA is urging Canadians to check the recall notices carefully to make sure they don’t have any of the affected products.

“Do not consume recalled products. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the place of purchase,” the CFIA said online. “If you think you became ill after consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider.”

Across the country, there have been 155 illnesses linked to the outbreaks, including 24 hospitalizations. The Public Health Agency of Canada said no deaths have been reported.

The agency noted these are only the laboratory-confirmed cases, adding the actual number of sick people in Canada is likely much higher.

It said the investigation is ongoing. That includes sampling and testing at different spots along the supply chain, and ensuring the recalled products have been pulled from store shelves.

“Pistachios have a long shelf life and may remain on the market for many months,” the CFIA warned.

More details can be found on the CFIA website.

Correction: A previous version of this article listed the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as the agency leading the investigation into the outbreak. This has been corrected, as the Public Health Agency of Canada is responsible for investigation and responding to outbreaks, like Salmonella or E.coli., linked to the recalled products.