A meat recall in Canada has been linked to 84 salmonella cases and the outbreak is spreading

Heads up, Canada — another product recall is making headlines, and it's linked to a growing salmonella outbreak that has already sent multiple people to hospital.

UPDATE: On Tuesday, PHAC revised its public health notice for the outbreak, expanding it to include even more meat products and provinces. You can read the latest here.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a food recall warning for certain meat products sold in multiple provinces, and health officials say the number of confirmed infections keeps climbing.

This is the latest update in an ongoing national investigation into a salmonella outbreak linked to a salami recall — one of several food recalls in Canada making the rounds this summer. New cases are still being reported weeks after the recall was first issued, and the outbreak is continuing to spread.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) now says 84 confirmed salmonella illnesses have been reported across four provinces, with nine people hospitalized as of Thursday.

The majority of cases — 67 of them — are in Alberta, with the rest reported in Ontario (15), Manitoba (1) and even one travel-related case in B.C., where the affected salami wasn't sold.

Many of those who got sick reported eating deli meat, often from grocery store counters or in sandwiches. PHAC says the outbreak is linked to specific batches of Rea- and Bona-brand Genoa salami that were recalled in June due to salmonella contamination.

These meats were sold in Alberta, Ontario and Manitoba — and may have been used in prepared foods, making them trickier to identify.

According to the recall notice, the meat may have been sliced and served at specialty markets, cafes, butcher shops and restaurant delis — or even tucked into store-made sandwiches. If you bought any of these salami products, even without a label, you should check with your retailer or just toss them to be safe.

The recalled deli meats are:

• Bona Mild Genova Salami (lot code 5035 226)
• Rea Genoa Salami Sweet (lot codes 5035 226 and 5049 226)
• Rea Genoa Salami Hot (lot codes 5020 228 and 5035 228)

Rea- and Bona-brand salami.Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The outbreak was first flagged in mid-June, after 57 confirmed cases and seven hospitalizations had already been reported. That tally had jumped to 72 by late June.

Now, with 84 reported illnesses and two more hospitalizations, the outbreak is still under investigation.

PHAC warns that the salmonella strain involved is also resistant to multiple antibiotics, which could make treatment more complicated in serious cases.

Symptoms of a salmonella infection usually show up within 6 to 72 hours and can include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and headaches. While most people recover on their own, young kids, older adults, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness, the federal health agency warns.

So far, there have been no reported deaths — but officials warn that more illnesses may still be reported due to delays between symptom onset and lab confirmation. Some cases in this outbreak date back as far as April.

The CFIA is continuing its investigation and hasn't ruled out expanding the recall if more contaminated products are found. In the meantime, anyone who thinks they've eaten a recalled product and feels unwell should contact their doctor, especially if symptoms are severe or persistent.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

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