Canadian health officials are investigating a Salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios sold in several provinces.
As of August 5, 52 people have been infected with two types of Salmonella — Salmonella Havana and Salmonella Mbandaka. The cases are from Quebec (39), Ontario (9), British Columbia (3), and Manitoba (1).
Nine people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. The people who got sick are between 2 and 89 years old. About 75% of them are women.
The outbreak has been linked to pistachios sold under the brands Habibi, Al Mokhtar Food Centre, and Dubai. Some of the products include Dubai’s pistachio & knafeh milk chocolate bars, which were also sold online. Health officials believe the contaminated pistachios may have been used in baked goods sold in stores and restaurants.
The Public Health Agency of Canada warns that the real number of infections could be much higher. Many people with mild symptoms might not go to a doctor or get tested. For every confirmed case, there could be up to 26 unreported ones.
The recalled pistachios were mainly sold in Ontario and Quebec. Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have issued warnings about the affected products. People are advised to check their homes and businesses, and not to eat, sell, or serve these pistachios.
Salmonella infections usually start 6 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Symptoms can include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and headaches.
