TERRACE, B.C. – The Salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios and pistachio-containing products continues to escalate across Canada, with public health agencies confirming a dramatic rise in both confirmed illnesses and product recalls.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is now investigating 155 laboratory-confirmed Salmonella infectionslinked to the consumption of pistachios, with illnesses reported across seven provinces, including British Columbia.
The contamination has triggered a cascade of recalls by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), with the total number of recalled products—ranging from raw kernels to pistachio baklava and eclairs—growing to 133.
Source Identified: Mandatory Testing and Import Ban
The source of the contamination has been traced to pistachios imported from Iran. The CFIA has taken strict measures to curb the spread:
- Import Ban: A temporary ban on the import of pistachios and pistachio-containing products from Iran was put into effect in September 2025.
- Mandatory Testing: The CFIA now mandates that all federally licensed importers and manufacturers that brought in Iranian pistachios prior to the ban must hold and test them for Salmonella before they can be sold in Canada.
The sheer number of products recalled is exacerbated by two main factors: pistachios being sold in bulk without clear labels, and their naturally long shelf life, meaning contaminated products bought months ago are still circulating.
Consumer Advisory – Should You Avoid Pistachios?
Given the ongoing nature of the outbreak and the difficulty in tracing the origin of bulk nuts, food safety experts are advising caution.
Lawrence Goodridge, a professor of food safety at the University of Guelph, told Global News that while products from non-Iranian sources are generally safe, “the best advice is really until this outbreak is over, people should avoid consuming pistachios.”
Consumers are advised to take the following steps:
- Do Not Consume: Check the CFIA’s website for the full list of recalled products. Do not consume, sell, or distribute any recalled pistachios or pistachio-containing products.
- Check Origin: If purchasing pistachios, look for the country of origin. It is safest to avoid the product if the country of origin cannot be confirmed.
- Ask Businesses: When dining out, particularly at restaurants or bakeries that use the nuts, consumers are advised to ask the vendor whether the pistachios used are of known origin and confirmed not to be from Iran.
The CFIA continues its investigation, involving sampling and testing at various stages along the supply chain, and will issue further recall warnings if more affected products are found on the Canadian market.
