These trays were included in the product recall issued by food inspectors. (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) recently announced that almost 1,600 people may have been infected with salmonella from mini pastries that were recalled due to health concerns. The pastries, sold under the Sweet Cream brand, were linked to 61 reported cases of salmonella, a bacterial infection that can cause severe illness.
The PHAC's director of outbreak management, April Hexemer, shared that for every confirmed case, the agency estimates there could be 26 additional cases in the community that went unreported. This means the total number of affected individuals could be as high as 1,592. Many of these people may have had mild to moderate symptoms, which resolved at home without the need for medical attention.
The outbreak notice was issued on Saturday, revealing that the pastries were served at various venues, including bakeries, hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals, retirement homes, and catered events. The pastries, imported from an Italian manufacturer, were sold in white boxes and distributed across several Canadian provinces.
An investigation launched by PHAC on December 12 began to identify the source of the infections. Health officials noticed that a significant number of the affected individuals had attended catered events where "fancy desserts" were served. Upon further inspection, investigators found that the Sweet Cream mini pastries were present at these events.
Sweet Cream mini pastries, sold in packs of 30, have been recalled due to their connection to a salmonella outbreak affecting five provinces. (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
Testing of infected specimens revealed 16 cases with matching genetic features, providing strong evidence that the pastries were the cause of the outbreak. Of the 61 confirmed cases, the majority were in Quebec (33 cases), followed by Ontario (21 cases), British Columbia (4 cases), Alberta (2 cases), and New Brunswick (1 case). Although the pastries were also distributed in Nova Scotia, no illnesses had been reported from the province as of Monday afternoon.
Health officials expect more cases to be reported as there is typically a delay of two to seven weeks before an infected person seeks medical care or reports their illness. Hexemer also noted that the manufacturer of the pastries has paused production as investigations continue.
Joseph Panetta, a Quebec-based sales manager with Piu Che Dolci, the company responsible for distributing the imported pastries in Canada and the U.S., expressed regret over the situation. Panetta clarified that the company only imports and distributes the products and is not responsible for manufacturing them. He assured that they were collecting the recalled products from Canadian customers and sending them for laboratory testing.
Panetta also emphasized that U.S. clients have not been affected by the recall, and the company is doing everything possible to rectify the situation. He extended an apology on behalf of his company and assured the public that their team is working to address the issue.
