CFIA Ramps Up Pistachio Screening With Mandatory Testing as Salmonella Cases Rise

Pistachios are seen at a nut shop in western Tehran, Iran, on March 31, 2013. AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi

Canada’s food regulator is implementing new measures to control a salmonella outbreak linked to Iranian pistachios, as laboratory-confirmed instances of salmonella infections spread across six provinces.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) banned all imports of Iranian pistachios on Sept. 27, and is currently performing targeted testing on products that are already in Canada.

The agency reported more than 150 recall notices as of Dec. 3, connected to its food safety investigation into pistachios and products containing pistachios.

The CFIA is now instructing all federally licensed importers and manufacturers to hold and conduct tests for salmonella on any pistachios imported prior to Sept. 27 before the nuts can be sold in Canada.

“This will help protect Canadians from illness and provide consumers with greater reassurance that what they are buying is safe,” the agency said in a press release this week. “These measures are part of the conditions that must be met for businesses with a Safe Food for Canadians licence and will remain in place while the CFIA analyzes information from the ongoing food safety investigation.”

The increased testing comes as the case count of salmonella infections continues to grow in several provinces.

A Dec. 2 update from the Public Health Agency of Canada said 155 cases of salmonella have been documented in Canada following an outbreak that began in early March, resulting in 24 hospitalizations as of mid-November. No deaths have been associated with the outbreak.

Quebec has the highest case count at 77, followed by Ontario with 58, British Columbia with nine, Alberta with seven, and Manitoba with three, and New Brunswick with one.

Seventy percent of the confirmed cases are female and range in age from one to 95, the public health agency said.

The agency has stressed on numerous occasions that the actual number of sick people in Canada is likely much higher than reported, noting those with mild symptoms typically do not visit a doctor, and therefore, are not tested.

Researchers estimate that for every reported case of salmonella to public health authorities, there are an additional 26 cases that remain unreported. That could mean there are more than 4,000 undiagnosed cases.

Risks and Recalls

Health authorities are warning Canadians to avoid consuming any pistachio product that could be linked to the ongoing recall.

Health Canada, the CFIA, and the Public Health Agency of Canada issued a joint Dec. 2 statement suggesting consumers avoid pistachios from Iran and products made with pistachios from Iran due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Pistachios have an extended shelf life and may still be in Canadians’ cupboards and pantries, the agencies said. They are advising consumers not to cook with or serve the products because heat may not kill the salmonella.

The agency warned that recalled products had been distributed online as well as in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. It said it is verifying that retailers are removing recalled products from the marketplace.

The recall has been classified as Class 2, indicating it falls within the middle tier of the three-tier classification system. This indicates a moderate risk that consuming the food or beverage may cause short-term or non-life-threatening health problems.

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that causes an intestinal infection called salmonellosis, which is one of the most common forms of food poisoning and has a wide range of symptoms, according to Health Canada.

Not everyone who comes into contact with salmonella will develop symptoms, but for those who do, side effects typically present themselves within six to 72 hours, the agency’s website says. The most common symptoms are chills, diarrhea, fever, nausea, stomach cramps, sudden headache, and vomiting and typically end within four to seven days.

The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness and may require medical treatment.

Dehydration is the most prevalent complication resulting from salmonellosis, particularly if vomiting and diarrhea are severe. Health Canada recommends rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

In extreme cases, might require treatment with prescription medications or may need to receive fluids intravenously.

Individuals who become severely ill may develop long-lasting health complications such as reactive arthritis, which is also referred to as Reiter’s syndrome. Serious symptoms typically manifest within four weeks of the onset of the illness.

Individuals infected with the bacteria can transmit the illness to others from several days to several weeks post-infection, even in the absence of symptoms, the agency said. The transmission occurs through direct person-to-person contact as well as by touching surfaces that have been contaminated.