Nine people are in hospital with salmonella infection after consuming a product containing pistachios, including a certain brand of pistachio or a Virus brand of Dubai brand chocolate bar.
And so far, Canadian public health agencies say three-quarters of people who get sick are women.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Tuesday that the recall of the Dubai brand's chocolate products was “caused by test results” and would affect the brand's pistachio and nafemilk chocolate. No illnesses have been reported due to product consumption.
PHAC also posted a public health notice that an outbreak of salmonella infection is ongoing and is under investigation.
PHAC says many people got sick after eating either pistachio or a product containing food.
According to the agency, a total of 52 laboratory confirmed cases, Salmonella Havana and Salmonella Mbandaka related to this outbreak have been reported in four states of the product.
A total of 39 cases have been reported in Quebec, nine in Ontario, three in British Columbia and one in Manitoba.
Dubai brand pistachios and Knafeh milk chocolate bars are shown in the photos of this undated handout. Canadian Press/Handling Materials – Government of Canada.
People got sick from early March to mid-July this year. The illness ranges between the ages of 2 and 89, with 75% being female.
PHAC also warns that the number consists of lab-confirmed cases and that the number of people with actual illness in Canada is likely to be much higher, with researchers estimateing that 26 people have not been reported for each case.
Recently, in addition to Dubai brand chocolate bars that include pistachios and cafes, there has been a recall of Pistachio Almohtar Food Centre brand, the Habibi brand of Pistachio Kernel.
Recall products available online have been distributed to Ontario and Quebec.
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The agency says the outbreak strain of salmonella that made people sick was found in recalled samples of Habibi branded pistachios.
PHAC says there is a time when a person gets sick and the illness is reported to officials, so more recent illnesses may still be reported. It may take more than a month after you become ill for the test to be confirmed.
In this case of an outbreak, the duration of reporting the disease ranges from 15 to 55 days after the onset of the disease.
Among Dubai chocolates facing global recalls are some Dubai chocolates
As a food trend for “next pumpkin spices,” Dubai-style chocolate, which has been previously promoted by several influencers and media, including the Wall Street Journal, has faced a recall in Canada and the US for Salmonella.
According to Newsweek, the first chocolate made in the United Arab Emirates became a virus in Tiktok, causing a surge in demand, including bars with pistachio nafe, and prompting imitation versions of the US and other countries.
The bar is filled with Knafeh, a local dessert made from shredded phyllo dough, pistachio paste and tahini. The people of Tiktok open chocolate and depict the tastes that make them taste like a terrible bar.
In the US, Recall targets emex spread pistachio cream as Kadayahu. This week, the Food and Drug Administration updated its voluntary recall to Class I. This is the highest level.
These products were distributed between June 11th and July 9th and had the highest date on the April 1st, 2027 label. As a result of this recall, no illnesses have been reported in the US.
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Salmonella is a foodborne bacteria disease that can affect people exposed to contaminated foods.
People infected with bacteria can spread it to others a few weeks or weeks after infection, even if they don't have symptoms.
The image, provided by the Canadian Public Health Agency, shows the packaging of Al Mohtar Food Centre Pistachio, facing food recalls.
Canadian Public Health Agency
Amidst the outbreak, Canadians, including retailers and food service facilities, are encouraged to check if the recalled product is in their home or facility.
If they have items, they are asked to throw them away or return them to where they were purchased.
People are being urged not to consumers, services, use, sell or distribute recalled products or products made with them.
Can I get some salmonella?
Identifying salmonella symptoms can be difficult, so if you think you have it, we recommend talking to a healthcare provider.
Salmonellosis has a wide range of symptoms, including chills, fever, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, or sudden headaches.
If you get sick, the agent says symptoms usually start within 6-72 hours after exposure, most ending within 4-7 days.
Most people with salmonella recover themselves, but PHACs can warn of more serious illnesses as they require hospital care and can lead to long-term health effects.
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