The Canadian Food Inspection Agency temporarily stopped imports of pistachios and products that contain them from Iran because of an ongoing Salmonella outbreak.
The measure went into effect on Saturday and applies to both the border and the conditions for getting an import license.
The goal of the action is to lower the risk of foodborne illness for consumers and make it harder for suppliers to get their hands on recalled goods.
Importers must show that their shipments do not come from Iran, or they will be turned away at the border. If there is paperwork, authorities will keep and test shipments for Salmonella.
As of September 24, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported 105 confirmed illnesses in six provinces, with 16 people hospitalized and no deaths and the investigation is still going on.
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Salmonella contamination doesn’t change the look or smell of nuts, and people often eat pistachios without cooking them again.
If you have a fever, diarrhea, or stomach cramps, you should see a doctor. This is especially true for young children, older adults, and people with weak immune systems, who are more likely to get very sick.
The CFIA order says that showing that the food does not come from Iran is now a requirement for a Safe Food for Canadians license.
If you don’t follow the rules, you could face fines, having your license suspended or canceled, or even prosecution.
The CFIA said the restrictions will stay in place while it looks at the results of the investigation and the data from the surveillance.
Since late July, recalls related to the outbreak have grown to include pistachio nuts and other items like pastries and chocolate.
PHAC says that from early March to early September, there were cases of illness, mostly in Quebec and Ontario.
Samples of recalled pistachios and Dubai-style chocolate with pistachios in them showed signs of the outbreak strains.
