A new salmonella outbreak in Canada has sparked a recall of chocolate & nuts that made 52 sick

A growing salmonella outbreak in Canada has now been linked to multiple chocolate and pistachio recalls, with 52 confirmed infections across four provinces so far — although health officials say the actual number is "likely much higher."

The contaminated products were sold under several different brand names, and officials say they may have even made their way into baked goods and online orders. A string of product recalls, including a recent Dubai chocolate recall in Canada, have been issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in response to the outbreak.

According to a notice from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) on Tuesday, the outbreak has already sent at least nine people to hospital.

Most of the people who have gotten sick live in Quebec (39), but cases have also been confirmed in Ontario (9), B.C. (3) and Manitoba (1). The agency warns that illnesses are still being reported, and this number could keep climbing as new test results come in.

This is now the second salmonella outbreak in Canada currently under investigation, alongside another one linked to deli meats that has sickened 88 people across western and central Canada. The PHAC hasn't indicated that the two are connected, and the salmonella strains involved are different.

According to the PHAC, the people who got sick in the latest oubreak range in age from two to 89 — and three out of four are female. Many of them reported eating pistachios or chocolate made with pistachios before they fell ill.

The outbreak strains, Salmonella Havana and Salmonella Mbandaka, were found in samples of Habibi-brand pistachios that were sold to hotels, restaurants and institutions and have since been recalled.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has since issued two other consumer-facing food recall warnings in connection with this outbreak, and the list includes both raw pistachios and pistachio-containing sweets.

So far, the recalled products are:

• Habibi-brand Pistachio Kernel (10 kg) — UPC 70847446000626; Lot: 361.24IR41, B.B JAN 2027 (sold to hotels, restaurants and institutions, not individual consumers)
• Al Mokhtar Food Centre-brand Pistachio (450 g) — UPC 2 60164 54022 8; sold at 383 McArthur Ave., Ottawa, ON
• Dubai-brand Pistachio & Knafeh Milk Chocolate (145 g) — UPC 6 11834 51237 1; Lot: 225.174

Dubai chocolate and Al Mokhtar Food Centre pistachios being recalled in Canada.Canadian Food Inspection Agency

According to the CFIA, these items were distributed in Ontario and Quebec, and the Dubai chocolate was also available for online purchase across Canada.

In some cases, the recalled pistachios may have been used in other foods like baked goods, which could make them harder to spot if you don't have the original packaging.

If you have any of these products at home — or if you're not sure what kind of pistachios or chocolate you've bought — officials recommend throwing them out or checking with the place you bought them from. Don't take any chances, especially if someone in your household is at higher risk of serious illness.

Symptoms of salmonella usually appear within 6 to 72 hours after exposure and can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, fever, stomach cramps and headaches. While most people recover on their own, the PHAC warns that people with weakened immune systems — including young children, older adults and pregnant people — are more likely to get seriously ill.

Even if the recalled products don't look or smell spoiled, they can still make you sick, and the PHAC warns that people infected with salmonella can pass it to others even if they're not showing symptoms.

If you've eaten any of the recalled items and are feeling unwell, health officials say you should talk to a doctor — especially if symptoms are severe or don't go away on their own. And if you're diagnosed with a salmonella infection, avoid cooking for others until you're fully recovered.

The outbreak investigation is still active, and the CFIA says more food recalls in Canada could be issued as they continue testing and tracking. As of now, no deaths have been reported — but PHAC says there's often a delay between when someone gets sick and when it's officially reported, so the actual number of infections could be much higher.

"Many people have mild symptoms and don't go to the doctor, so they aren't tested," PHAC explains. "Researchers estimate that for each case of salmonella reported to public health, there are 26 more cases that are not reported."

In the meantime, Canadians are being urged to stay alert for food recall notices and to double-check their pantries, fridges and freezers for any of the affected products.

If you think you may have bought something that's now under recall, your best bet is to play it safe and toss it.

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

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