Over 60 pistachio products have now been recalled as Canada's salmonella outbreak spreads

Canada's pistachio-related salmonella outbreak keeps expanding, with dozens more chocolate, pastries and other pistachio products being added to the growing list of food recalls this week.

Over 60 chocolate bars, pastries and bulk nuts have now been pulled from shelves, as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) continue to investigate the growing salmonella outbreak sweeping the country, issuing new product recalls along the way.

According to the PHAC, people started getting sick as far back as March, with new cases still popping up into August. There have been 62 lab-confirmed illnesses across four provinces so far, and 10 have ended up in the hospital.

Most of the reported illnesses have been in Quebec, but cases have also been confirmed in Ontario, B.C. and Manitoba. While no deaths have been reported, the agency warns that the real number of sick people is "likely much higher" than the official count.

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

The outbreak is still currently under investigation, with new food recalls being issued regularly as more products are found to be linked to the outbreak. As of Wednesday, 61 different products had been recalled in connection to the outbreak, including pistachios, chocolate bars, pastries and even gelato and spreads.

The products were sold at retailers big and small — everywhere from big-box stores like Costco to local bakeries and corner stores. They made their way across the country to Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and possibly other provinces and territories, plus many were sold online.

In some cases, the items were used in desserts or sold clerk-served without labels, so they may be hard to identify. The CFIA is urging everyone to double-check their pantries and fridges — or ask the store directly if you're unsure.

Here's everything that's been recalled so far:

Pistachio nuts

• Al Mokhtar Food Centre Pistachio, 450 g
• Habibi Pistachio Kernel, 10 kg
• KabulVan Supermarket-sold bulk and variable-size Pistachio Kernels
• Pistachio Choco clerk-served Pistachio Kernels
• Pistachio Shelled (unbranded, item code WS00790), 1 kg — sold only to hotels, restaurants and institutions

Chocolates

• Chocofolie "Chocolat Dubaï - chocolat au lait kunafa & pistache", 145 g
• Chocolato "Chocolat Dubaï - chocolat au lait kunafa & pistache", 145 g
• Chocolats Favoris Dubai Chocolate - Pistachio & Knafeh Milk Chocolate, 145 g
• Dubai Pistachio & Knafeh Milk Chocolate, 145 g
• Vincent Sélection Dubai Chocolate - Milk Chocolate, Knafeh & Pistachio, 145 g
• Pistachio Choco clerk-served products: Arabesque (Pistachio + Vanilla Ganache), Chocolate Marbles Mixed, Dark 54 Chocolate Marbles with Nuts, Dark 71 Chocolate Marbles with Nuts, Dark Chocolate filled with Pistachio Cream, Dubai Chocolate Cup, Dubai Chocolate Dates, Dubai Chocolate Heart, Dubai Chocolate Leaves, Dubai Chocolate Log, Knafeh Dubai Chocolate Вars, Kunafa Bites, Milk Chocolate Bar Mixed Nuts, Milk Chocolate Bar Pistachio, Milk Chocolate filled with Pistachio Cream, Milk Chocolate Marbles with Nuts, Mixed Truffles Chocolate, Pistachio Chocolate, Pistachio Dates, Ruby Chocolate Bar Mixed Nuts, Ruby Chocolate Bar Pistachio, White Chocolate Bar Mixed Nuts, White Chocolate Bar Pistachio.

Pastries & desserts

• Andalos products sold clerk-served and in trays: Baklava, Baklava Aswara Pistachio, Baklava Catering Tray, Baklava Esh Al Bolbol Pistachio, Baklava Losange, Baklava Pistachio Burma, Baklava Pistachio Wardah, Baklavas Rectangles, Baklavas Triangles, Cheaibiyet, Knafeh Ashta, Knafeh Nabulseyeh, Qatayef (small), Znoud El Sett
• Alkadour Sweets products sold in 5 or 12 pieces: Pistachio Baklava, Pistachio Butter Cookies
• Kamo Bakery clerk-served Pistachio Paklava
• La Brioche clerk-served products: Baklava (including cream filled), Petit Four Cookies, Strawberry Cheesecake
• Mr. Kaak-sold Baklava, 300 g and 600 g

Spreads & gelato

• Shaikh Al Kar Plain Halva, 400 g
• Chocofolie Dubaï spread - pistachio and pistachio & knafeh, 1 kg — sold only to hotels, restaurants and institutions
• Délifruits Dubaï spread - pistachio & knafeh, 4 x 1 kg — sold only to hotels, restaurants and institutions
• Délifruits Pistachio gelato, 5 L — sold only to hotels, restaurants and institutions

Keep in mind only certain lots of the above products are affected. You can find full product details — including UPCs, best-before dates and lot codes — on the CFIA's food safety investigation page for the outbreak.

These food recalls in Canada are still ongoing, and the list may grow as the CFIA continues to test products and remove affected items from the market.

If you've eaten any of the recalled items, watch out for symptoms like stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills and headaches. Symptoms usually start within 6 to 72 hours of exposure and can last for several days. Most people recover on their own, but young kids, older adults, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to get really sick.

The CFIA says it's still working with industry partners to remove all recalled items from the marketplace and is doing regular checks to make sure affected products aren't being sold anymore.

If you think you might have a recalled item at home:

• Don't eat it — toss it or return it to the store for a refund
• Sanitize any surfaces, containers or utensils it may have touched
• Contact the retailer if you can't find the brand or lot codes for your product
• Reach out to your health care provider if you're feeling sick

Because of how long it takes for a case to be tested and reported, PHAC says more salmonella cases could still pop up over the next few weeks.

Stay safe out there, Canada!

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

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