The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated its list of pistachio products recalled due to possible salmonella contamination to include more than 200 products nationwide.
The agency’s recall list now includes 241 pistachio and pistachio-containing products of various brands, as of its latest update published on Dec. 12.
The products have been sold online and in multiple provinces across the country, including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.
The CFIA first published a recall notification for a pistachio product due to salmonella contamination in July, and additional recalls have been issued as a result of food safety investigation into pistachio products by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
There have been 155 reported cases of illness relating to pistachio products between early March and mid-November, PHAC says. This includes 77 cases in Quebec, 58 in Ontario, 9 in British Columbia, 7 in Alberta, 3 in Manitoba, and 1 in New Brunswick. Among those cases, 24 people were hospitalized and there have been no deaths.
The agency has said on a number of occasions that the actual number of sick people in Canada is likely much higher than reported, as many people have mild symptoms, don’t go to the doctor, or aren’t tested. Researchers have estimated that for each salmonella case reported to public health, there are 26 more cases that aren’t reported, PHAC says.
The CFIA banned all imports of Iranian pistachios on Sept. 27,and is currently performing targeted testing on products that are already in Canada.
The food inspection agency has also implemented recent measures to control the salmonella outbreak, including requiring all federally licensed importers and manufacturers to hold and conduct tests for salmonella on any pistachios imported prior to Sept. 27 before the nuts can be sold in Canada.
Recommendations to Consumers
The CFIA has warned consumers to not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute any of the recalled products. Consumers are also advised to not use the products in cooking or baking, as heat may not kill salmonella in pistachios.
Health Canada, the CFIA, and PHAC issued a public advisory on Dec. 2 cautioning the public to avoid imported pistachios from Iran and products made with pistachios from Iran due to possible salmonella contamination.
The department and the two agencies said pistachios have a long shelf life and products purchased months ago could still be in consumers’ homes. Consumers are advised to check the CFIA recall listings, which indicate product details such as brand, product name, size, UPC, and codes, to determine if the products have been recalled.
Public health officials recommend throwing away or returning recalled products to the place where they were purchased. For products that are not part of the recall, consumers should check the product’s country of origin. Products from countries other than Iran are not affected, the agencies say.
The pistachio recalls have been classified as Class II, indicating there is a “moderate” risk that consuming the food could cause short-term or non-life-threatening health problems.
“Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick,” the CFIA says.
Salmonella is a type of bacteria that causes an intestinal infection called salmonellosis, which is one of the most common forms of food poisoning and has a range of symptoms, according to Health Canada.
Young children, pregnant women, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems are said to be at higher risk for serious and “sometimes deadly” infections. Meanwhile, healthy people may experience short-term symptoms like fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea, the CFIA says.
Jennifer Cowan contributed to this report.
