US and Canadian Salmonella Pistachio Outbreaks appear unlinked

What a difference do multiple serotypes make.

In the United States, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated a Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak in 2025 linked to a specific batch of Emek-brand Pistachio Cream with a use-by date of October 19, 2026. Four people in Minnesota and New Jersey became ill, with one hospitalization, and the outbreak was declared over in the U.S. in August 2025. The recalled product was a shelf-stable nut butter cream sold online, and the CDC and FDA advised consumers and food service locations not to eat, sell, or serve the contaminated cream. 

On May 13, 2025, FDA and CDC issued an advisory for a 5-kilogram white tub of Emek-brand Pistachio Cream with a use-by date of October 19, 2026, and production code PNO: 241019. On July 14, 2025, World Market voluntarily recalled Emek Spread Pistachio Cacao Cream with Kadayif due to potential contamination with Salmonella. Both of these pistachio cream products are no longer available for sale.

In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reports that there are 105 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella Havana, Salmonella Mbandaka, Salmonella Meleagridis, Salmonella Tennessee, Salmonella Anatum, Salmonella Bareilly and Salmonella Senftenberg illness linked to this outbreak in:

British Columbia (6)
Alberta (4)
Manitoba (1)
Ontario (27)
Quebec (66)
New Brunswick (1)

People became sick between early March and early September 2025. Of the cases reported, 16 people have been hospitalized and there have been no deaths. People who became sick are between 2 and 95 years of age. The majority of sick individuals are female (75%).

Many people who became sick reported eating pistachios, and products containing pistachios, such as Dubai-style chocolate and pastry products. The outbreak strains of Salmonella that made people sick were found in samples of recalled pistachios and samples of the recalled Dubai-style chocolate. The investigation is ongoing and it is possible that additional sources may be identified.

Friday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced it will implement a temporary restriction on imports of pistachios and pistachio-containing products from Iran as a precautionary measure to protect Canadians from the risk of Salmonella infection. In addition, as a condition of their Safe Food for Canadians licence, all importers of pistachios and pistachio containing products will be required to show proof that these products do not originate from Iran in order to be accepted into Canada. Shipments will be subjected to a hold and test for Salmonella or refused entry if importers do not provide this proof.
An outbreak investigation is ongoing, led by the Public Health Agency of Canada, with more than 100 laboratory-confirmed Salmonella infections in Canada and numerous food recall notifications linked to pistachio kernels and products originating from Iran.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.