Karmactive Staff
A growing salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios has now spread to popular Middle Eastern pastries, with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issuing a recall for Andalos brand baklava and other pistachio-containing treats.
The recall affects several Andalos brand products sold in New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, and online across Canada. Most of the recalled items were sold at Boulangerie Andalos in Montreal between June 25 and July 26, 2025.
Health officials confirm 52 people have fallen ill with salmonella across four provinces, with 10 requiring hospitalization. No deaths have been reported. The affected individuals range in age from 2 to 89, with a striking 75% being female.
“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,” explained April Hexemer, director of outbreak management at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
This baklava recall is part of a larger investigation that has already resulted in recalls of multiple pistachio products, including Habibi brand pistachio kernels, Al Mokhtar Food Centre pistachios, and Dubai brand milk chocolate bars with pistachio and knafeh. The viral Dubai chocolate bars, which gained popularity on social media, have been particularly concerning for health officials.
Laboratory testing has confirmed the outbreak strains of salmonella were found in samples of the recalled Habibi brand pistachios. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and more contaminated products could still be identified.
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Health experts offer differing advice on how consumers should respond. Hexemer suggests checking product codes against recall notices and contacting retailers if uncertain about bulk pistachios in your pantry. “The key message is to throw out the recalled product and not to eat it, use it, serve it, sell it, or distribute it,” she stressed.
Taking a more cautious approach, Professor Lawrence Goodridge from the University of Guelph recommends avoiding all pistachio products until officials declare the outbreak over. “How is somebody supposed to know where those pistachios came from?” he questioned.
Salmonella is a foodborne bacterial illness that causes symptoms including fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, cramps, and diarrhea. While most people recover within a few days without treatment, the infection can be severe or even deadly for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant people, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
Health officials believe the actual number of cases is likely much higher than the 52 confirmed infections, as many people with mild symptoms don’t seek medical attention. Researchers estimate that for each reported case, there are 26 more unreported cases.
The CFIA warns that salmonella can spread from infected individuals even if they don’t show symptoms, and urges anyone diagnosed with salmonella not to prepare food for others. The agency continues to verify that all recalled products are being removed from store shelves.
For a complete list of recalled products and product codes, consumers should visit the CFIA website’s Recalls and Safety Alerts section.
