The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recalled four brands of pistachios. Consumption of these products puts consumers at risk of salmonella infection. Health concerns have arisen, leading to this massive recall. Products at risk are Habibi brand pistachio kernels and Al Mokhtar Food Centre pistachios.
Dubai brand milk chocolate bars and Andalos brand baklava are part of the recall. The public health notice emphasizes that salmonella can spread days or even weeks after initial infection, even if individuals do not exhibit symptoms.
Health Risks and Expert Recommendations
Lawrence Goodridge, a professor at the University of Guelph and a Canadian Research Chair in dynamics of foodborne pathogens. He urges all drivers to be especially careful during this busy time of year.
“My advice is, do not consume any products that contain pistachios for the next little while until the outbreak is declared over by PHAC,” – Lawrence Goodridge
Goodridge’s recommendation is alarming enough, but we have heard enough about the contamination risks of pistachios to take it lightly. Management and responsibility of these recalls lies with CFIA, which is diligently monitoring the current situation.
April Hexemer, the public health agency’s director of outbreak management, emphasized the difficulties that consumers face. Consumers sometimes have a difficult time identifying where pistachios come from in a varied product.
“Some of the products that people consumed are baked goods that have pistachios sort of sprinkled on top. You wouldn’t know what brand of pistachio that would be. But it’s all part of the investigation,” – April Hexemer
Scope of the Recall
The recalls were last updated on August 9, 2025, at 7:17 am, indicating an ongoing effort to ensure public safety. Baklava pastries from bakeries in Montreal and chocolate bars with pistachio cream from Dubai are just two examples. These exquisite confections are going through seismic shifts that affect their access.
Hexemer further noted, “There could be other products identified. It’s too soon to know.” This points to the ongoing nature of the investigation and the possibility that more recalls are coming in the days and weeks ahead.
Consumer Guidance
The CFIA has reminded consumers not to eat any recalled products and to throw them out right away. Hexemer reinforced this message by stating,
“The key message is to throw out the recalled product and not to eat it, use it, serve it, sell it, or distribute it,” – April Hexemer
This guidance is highly important considering public safety is still the number one priority during these continued assessments through this crisis.
