Salmonella Outbreak in Canada Linked to Viral Pistachio Chocolate
Hey, just a heads-up if you've been snacking on pistachios or any trendy pistachio-filled chocolate bars lately—especially the ones that went viral on TikTok. There’s a growing salmonella outbreak in Canada that’s been officially linked to certain pistachio products and baked goods made with them, including a popular Dubai brand chocolate bar.
So far, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has confirmed 52 cases of salmonella across four provinces. The majority—39 cases—have been reported in Quebec, with others in Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba. What’s more concerning is that nine people have been hospitalized. And here's the kicker—these are just the confirmed cases. PHAC estimates the actual number of infections could be much higher since many people don’t get tested or may not even realize they’ve been affected.
The products under scrutiny include pistachios from brands like Habibi and Al Mokhtar Food Centre, and the recall also extends to that ultra-viral Dubai chocolate bar. You know, the one that combines milk chocolate with gooey pistachio cream and crispy knafeh? It exploded in popularity online, with influencers and foodies everywhere sharing videos of themselves breaking it open and taste-testing it. It was dubbed the next "pumpkin spice" trend, but now it’s making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
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Health officials are urging everyone—especially retailers and restaurants—to check if they have any of the recalled items, and if they do, to either throw them out or return them. These products were mostly distributed in Ontario and Quebec, but since they’ve been sold online too, they could be anywhere by now.
The tricky part with outbreaks like this is that it can take quite a while—between 15 and 55 days—for someone to get sick, get tested, and for that case to be confirmed and reported. So even though these illnesses started showing up as early as March, it’s likely we’ll be hearing about more cases well into the fall.
Just to be safe, if you’ve eaten pistachio-based products recently and are experiencing symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, or diarrhea—especially within six to 72 hours after eating—it’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare provider. Most people recover on their own, but some may need medical attention.
And remember: don’t consume, serve, sell, or even keep any of the recalled products around. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Stay well and keep an eye on what’s in your snack drawer.
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