Public health notice: Outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 24, 2025 /CNW/ - Update

At a glance

Do not consume, use, sell, serve or distribute recalled pistachios and pistachio-containing products. Refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) Food Safety Investigation page for a list of recalled products.

Outbreak details
Illnesses	105
Provinces and territories with illnesses (number of illnesses)	British Columbia (6) Alberta (4) Manitoba (1) Ontario (27) Quebec (66) New Brunswick (1)
Hospitalizations	16
Deaths	0
Gender	75% female
Age range	2 to 95
Food Recall	Yes, various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination
Investigation status	Active

Recalled food

Recalls have been published for pistachios and pistachio-containing products from various brands. Refer to the CFIA's Food Safety Investigation page for a list of recalled products.

For the latest information on recalls, refer to the Recalls and safety alerts website.

Some provinces and territories may carry out their own food safety investigations and issue additional recall notices.

The province of Quebec (in French only), through the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation (MAPAQ) has also issued several food recall warnings on pistachio-containing products.  

How to protect your health

Salmonellosis is a foodborne bacterial illness that can affect anyone exposed to a contaminated food product.

People who are infected with Salmonella bacteria can spread Salmonella to other people several days to several weeks after they have become infected, even if they don't have symptoms.

The following advice applies to individuals, as well as retailers, distributors and food service establishments such as grocery stores, pharmacies, bakeries and cafes across Canada:

• Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home or establishment by looking for the specific product name and size, UPC and codes in the recall alerts.
• Do not consume, serve, use, sell or distribute recalled products or any product made with them.
• Throw out or return recalled products to the location where they were purchased. Consumers or establishments who are unsure if they have purchased the recalled products are advised to contact their retailer or supplier where the products were purchased.
• Do not cook food for other people if you've been diagnosed with a Salmonella infection or any other gastrointestinal illness.
• Contact your health care provider if you think you're experiencing symptoms of Salmonella.

Most people who become ill from a Salmonella infection will recover fully after a few days without treatment, but it can also cause severe illness and hospitalization.

Those at higher risk for serious illness include:

• older adults
• young children
• people who are pregnant
• people with weakened immune systems

Symptoms

Salmonellosis has a wide range of symptoms. You may not get sick at all. However, if you do get sick, symptoms usually start within 6 to 72 hours after exposure.

You may experience:

• chills
• a fever
• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• stomach cramps
• a sudden headache

Most symptoms end within 4 to 7 days.

While most people recover completely on their own, some people may have a more serious illness that:

• requires hospital care
• may lead to long-lasting health effects or death

Salmonellosis (Salmonella)
Food safety for vulnerable populations

Investigation summary

There are 105 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella Havana, Salmonella Mbandaka, Salmonella Meleagridis, Salmonella Tennessee, Salmonella Anatum, Salmonella Bareilly and Salmonella Senftenberg illness linked to this outbreak in:

• British Columbia (6)
• Alberta (4)
• Manitoba (1)
• Ontario (27)
• Quebec (66)
• New Brunswick (1)

People became sick between early March and early September 2025. Of the cases reported, 16 people have been hospitalized and there have been no deaths. People who became sick are between 2 and 95 years of age. The majority of sick individuals are female (75%).

Many people who became sick reported eating pistachios, and products containing pistachios, such as Dubai-style chocolate and pastry products. The outbreak strains of Salmonella that made people sick were found in samples of recalled pistachios and samples of the recalled Dubai-style chocolate. The investigation is ongoing and it is possible that additional sources may be identified.

More recent illnesses may continue to be reported because there is a period between when a person becomes sick and when the illness is reported to public health officials. It can take more than a month from the time someone gets sick, sees a doctor, gets tested, and has their results confirmed. For this outbreak, the illness reporting period is between 15 and 99 days after illness onset.

This notice only includes laboratory-confirmed cases. The actual number of sick people in Canada is likely much higher. Many people have mild symptoms and don't go to the doctor, so they aren't tested. Researchers estimate that for each case of Salmonella reported to public health, there are 26 more cases that are not reported.

Related links

• Food Safety Investigation: Various brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination
• Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation (MAPAQ)(French only)
• Recalls and safety alerts
• Risks of salmonellosis (Salmonella)
• Safe food handling practices
• Email subscription service for Public Health Notices
• Recall subscription service

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

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