Canadian health officials are investigating a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella infections tied to various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says that as of Aug. 5, there have been 52 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella Havana and Salmonella Mbandaka reported across four provinces: Quebec (39), Ontario (9), British Columbia (3), and Manitoba (1).
Nine individuals have been hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported. The affected individuals range in age from 2 to 89, with 75 per cent of cases involving women.
The outbreak has been linked to pistachios sold under the brands Habibi, Al Mokhtar Food Centre, and Dubai, including Dubai’s pistachio & knafeh milk chocolate bars, which were also available for online purchase.
The chocolate bar gained fame on TikTok in 2023 as influencers filmed themselves trying the confection, initially created in the United Arab Emirates. The popularity has led to copycat products and spawned many reviews and recipes on food blogs.
The contaminated nuts may have been used in baked goods sold at retail and food service establishments.
Officials warn that the actual number of infections may be significantly higher than reported, as many individuals with mild symptoms may not seek medical attention or undergo testing. According to public health estimates, for every confirmed case of Salmonella, there may be up to 26 unreported cases.
“Some people have a milder illness and don’t seek medical care. Or if they do, they may not be subjected to a laboratory test,” said April Hexemer, the public health agency’s director of outbreak management.
Hexemer says it can take between 15 and 55 days to identify a case, as it involves the patient seeking care and getting tested to determine if their infection is linked to the outbreak.
She said it’s too soon to say if there will be recalls of other pistachio-containing products, or if investigators can determine the origins of the outbreak.
It’s also too early to say why most of the outbreak’s cases – 75 per cent – have been females, ranging in age from two to 89 years old.
The recalled products were distributed to Ontario and Quebec.
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have issued recall warnings for the implicated products. Consumers are urged to check their homes and businesses for recalled items and to avoid consuming, selling, or serving them.
Salmonellosis, the illness caused by Salmonella bacteria, typically presents within 6 to 72 hours of exposure and can include symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and headache.
Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report