Whole Foods Market Product Recalls in Ontario Prompted by US Salmonella Outbreak

The Whole Foods Market logo outside a retail store on Aug. 13, 2025, in Newton, Mass. AP Photo/Charles KrupaSeveral Whole Foods Market products available in Ontario and online are being recalled due to potential salmonella contamination associated with an outbreak in the United States.The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a Class 2 recall for 22 products it says were distributed in Ontario stores as well as online. A Class 2 recall indicates a moderate risk that consuming the food could result in short-term or non-life-threatening health issues.The recalled items from Whole Foods include a range of salsas, guacamoles, pico de gallo, and some prepared foods such as chicken quesadillas, with ‘best before’ dates up to Aug. 16. The complete list of recalled items can be seen here.“Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased,” the agency said in its Aug. 13 advisory. “If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider.”The CFIA recall was triggered by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recall in the United States and no illnesses associated with the consumption of these products has been reported in Canada, the food inspection agency said.The agency is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate a multi-state Salmonella Javiana outbreak linked to fresh jalapeño peppers imported from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors, the FDA said in an advisory.The outbreak has caused 345 illnesses and 36 hospitalizations across 27 U.S. states, with no deaths reported.CFIA said it is continuing to conduct a food safety investigation into the possible salmonella contamination domestically, which could lead to the recall of other products.Salmonella SymptomsSalmonella is a group of bacteria that cause a common food poisoning infection called salmonellosis, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.Not everyone exposed to salmonella will become ill, but those affected typically show symptoms within six to 72 hours, the agency’s website said. The most vulnerable groups include young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.Chills, diarrhea, fever, nausea, stomach cramps, sudden headaches, and vomiting are the most prevalent symptoms and they typically resolve within four to seven days.Most people recover on their own, but there are cases where some become seriously ill and require hospital care, the agency said. Those who become critically ill may experience long-term health effects such as reactive arthritis, also known as Reiter’s syndrome.In extreme cases salmonella food poisoning can cause death.