Canadian Recall Issued for Dubai-Based Chocolate Due to Salmonella Risk

Recalled Dubai brand Pistachio & Knafeh Milk Chocolate bars were distributed in Quebec and also sold online. Public Health Agency of Canada photo

Dubai brand chocolate bars are being recalled in Canada as a precaution against potential salmonella contamination.

Dubai’s Pistachio & Knafeh Milk Chocolate bars, which were distributed in Quebec and are also available for purchase online, are being recalled by Distribution Bonbons JJ Candy, health officials say.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said the recall was “triggered by test results” but noted in an Aug. 4 advisory that there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of the product.

The recalled products are 145 grams with the UPC 6 11834 51237 1 located below the barcode and a code of 225.174. They are milk chocolate bars filled with a pistachio cream and crunchy pieces of knafeh.

CFIA said it has launched a food safety investigation which may lead to the recall of other products, and noted it is verifying that all affected products have been pulled from store shelves and websites.

The agency is urging all individuals who purchased the chocolate bars to dispose of them.

The Dubai brand Pistachio & Knafeh Milk Chocolate bars are the latest pistachio-related product to be recalled over the past few weeks. Recall warnings have also been issued for products from the brands Habibi and Al Mokhtar Food Centre.

Nine people have been hospitalized and numerous cases of salmonella have been documented in Canada following an outbreak of infections associated with specific brands of pistachios and products containing pistachios.

The Public Health Agency of Canada said 52 cases of salmonella have been confirmed across four provinces, with the reported illnesses occurring from early March to mid-July. Quebec has the highest number of cases at 39, followed by Ontario with nine, British Columbia with three, and Manitoba with one.

The health agency said the strains of salmonella responsible for the illnesses were detected in samples of the recalled Habibi brand pistachios, but noted that other sources could be identified as the investigation continues.

Salmonellosis is one of the most common forms of food poisoning and has a wide range of symptoms, according to Health Canada.

Not everyone who is exposed to salmonella will develop symptoms, but for those who do, side effects typically manifest within six to 72 hours, the agency says. The most common symptoms are chills, diarrhea, fever, nausea, stomach cramps, sudden headache, and vomiting. Most symptoms end within four to seven days and do not require medical treatment unless they are severe. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

The most common complication from salmonellosis is dehydration, which can occur if vomiting and diarrhea is severe. Health Canada recommends rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

In severe cases, patients may need to be treated with prescription drugs or be given fluids intravenously.

Those who are infected with the bacteria can spread the illness to others anywhere from several days to several weeks after becoming infected, even when no symptoms are present. It is spread via person-to-person contact and by touching contaminated surfaces.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.