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Category: General
Popular foods are being recalled in Quebec including cheese, Himalayan salt & chocolate
The New Year is here, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is back with another round of product recalls affecting Quebec residents.
This latest wave of food recalls in Quebec affects everything from bread and baked goods to Himalayan salt, cheese and even chocolate.
From the risk of E. coli contamination and cyanide poisoning to plastic pieces and undeclared allergens, these recalls showcase highlight issues you’ll definitely want to know about. The CFIA is urging Canadians to check their products carefully and take swift action to avoid potential health risks.
Here’s a detailed look at all the latest food recalls in Quebec, the reasons behind them and the steps you should take to stay safe.
President’s Choice salts
Recalled products:
- President’s Choice Mediterranean Sea Salts, 360 g — all best-before dates up to and including January 17, 2026
- President’s Choice Himalayan Pink Rock Salts, 390 g — all best-before dates up to and including January 17, 2026
Recall reason: Loblaw Companies Limited is recalling President’s Choice Mediterranean Sea Salts and Himalayan Pink Rock Salts due to contamination with pieces of plastic. These products, distributed nationally, were flagged just weeks after a similar recall for President’s Choice Tellicherry Black Peppercorns was issued nationally, also for plastic contamination. If you have these salts, don’t use, sell or serve them. Check your pantry and discard or return any affected items to stay safe!
Last updated: January 2, 2025
President’s Choice recall notice
Fromagerie des Grondines cheeses
Recalled products:
- Fromagerie des Grondines “Festin Soft Cheese”
- Fromagerie des Grondines “Tomme des galets raw sheep goat milk semi soft”
- Fromagerie des Grondines “Raclé”
- Fromagerie des Grondines “Clos des roches raw milk firm paste”
- Fromagerie des Grondines “Foin-de-grèves”
- Fromagerie des Grondines “Grondines”
- Fromagerie des Grondines “Le Grand 2”
- Fromagerie des Grondines “Tomme de la chevrotière raw goat milk semi soft cheese”
- Fromagerie des Grondines “D’eschambault”
Recall reason: Aux Terroirs is recalling several Fromagerie des Grondines cheeses that were sold up to and including December 5, 2024, due to contamination with generic E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. An initial recall issued on December 23 mentioned only the company’s Festin Soft Cheese distributed in Alberta and Quebec, but a follow-up expanded the recall to include eight additional cheeses sold across most provinces and territories. While the E. coli strain is non-pathogenic, both contaminants can pose health risks. If you’ve purchased these cheeses, check the CFIA notice for details and dispose of any affected products to avoid potential illness.
Last updated: December 27, 2024
Fromagerie des Grondines recall notice
Sweet Fix chocolate bars
Recalled products:
- Sweet Fix “Lotus – Lait” (Chocolate Bar), 140 g
- Sweet Fix “Pistache – Lait” (Chocolate Bar), 145 g
- Sweet Fix “Pistache – Noir” (Chocolate Bar), 145 g
Recall reason: Sweet Fix Mtl is recalling various chocolate bars due to undeclared allergens, including wheat, sesame seeds and milk. These bars, sold in Quebec and online, could pose serious risks to those with allergies or intolerances. The recall applies to any of the above bars where wheat, milk and/or sesame are not declared on the label. If you have an allergy to any of these ingredients, steer clear of these bars.
Last updated: December 27, 2024
8 Cakes Pistachio Knafeh
Recalled product: 8 Cakes Pistachio Knafeh — all codes where wheat is not properly declared on the label
Recall reason: 8 Cakes Bake Shoppe Ltd. is recalling its Pistachio Knafeh due to undeclared wheat, which poses a risk to people with wheat allergies or gluten intolerance. The recall affects products sold online and distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and possibly other areas. If you’ve purchased this dessert, don’t eat it — return it to the retailer or throw it out.
Last updated: December 27, 2024
Pistachio Knafeh recall notice
El Balad chickpeas
Recalled product: El Balad Chickpeas, 300 g — best before August 1, 2025
Recall reason: Les Aliments Amelya Impex Inc. is recalling its El Balad brand chickpeas due to container integrity defects, which have led to spoilage concerns. These products were sold in Ontario and Quebec. The CFIA notes that while the spoilage isn’t harmful, it compromises the product’s quality. If you have these chickpeas, avoid using them and dispose of them or return them to the store you got them from.
Last updated: December 20, 2024
Sareks Bitter Apricot Kernels
Recalled product: Sareks Bitter Apricot Kernels, 1 lb — best before October 12, 2025
Recall reason: Sareks brand Bitter Apricot Kernels, sold online in Canada, are being recalled due to high levels of natural toxin amygdalin, which can release cyanide when consumed. Consuming large amounts of amygdalin may cause acute cyanide poisoning, with symptoms like weakness, confusion, nausea, difficulty breathing, and even cardiac arrest and death.
The recall was prompted by CFIA test results, and one illness has already been reported. If you have this product, stop consuming it immediately and throw it out or return it to the place of purchase. Seek medical attention if you experience symptoms after eating it.
Last updated: December 11, 2024
This article’s cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog’s Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.
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Canada’s airports & airlines got slammed in a new global ranking — and YUL wasn’t spared
It looks like Montreal–Trudeau Airport and Canadian airlines have some serious catching up to do when it comes to flight delays. A new global ranking of the most on-time airlines and airports in 2024 has been revealed — and let’s just say it’s not a good look for Canada’s aviation industry.
Cirium, a global aviation analytics company, revealed the winners of its 2024 On-Time Performance Review on Thursday, highlighting airlines and airports around the world that excelled in on-time performance last year.
Among North American airlines, Canada’s Air Canada and WestJet just squeezed into the top 10, ranking ninth and tenth respectively. But globally? Not even close. Meanwhile, Canada’s low-cost carriers didn’t crack the list at all. And if you’re wondering about our airports, none ranked in the top 20 worldwide — in any size category. Yikes.
How Canadian airlines stack up
Globally, Mexico’s Aeromexico was crowned the most on-time airline in 2024, with a stellar 86.7% on-time performance rate. Delta Air Lines took the top spot for North America (which, for the purposes of this report, includes only Canada and the U.S.) at 83.46%, showcasing why it’s seen as a regional leader.
Air Canada and WestJet barely even made the North American list with on-time rates of 71.36% and 70.99%, respectively. Meanwhile, other Canadian airlines like Porter, Air Transat, Flair and Sunwing were nowhere to be seen on the list.
Cirium defines an on-time flight as one that arrives within 15 minutes of its scheduled gate time, and for airports, departures within the same window count. These metrics are widely recognized as the gold standard for operational excellence.
Air Canada also had the fourth-highest number of cancelled flights in North America, despite operating far fewer total flights than any others in the top five. The Canadian flag carrier had a cancellation rate of 2.8% — the third-highest rate in the region.
WestJet didn’t fare any better, with a 3.19% cancellation rate — the second-highest among major North American airlines.
The challenges behind the numbers
Cirium’s report notes that air traffic control shortages were a major issue for North American airlines in 2024, impacting schedules in Canada as well as the U.S.
Aviation consultant Scott McCartney highlighted how these shortages forced widespread delays and cancellations, noting that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration was short about 3,000 controllers nationwide, resulting in schedule cuts at major airports in cities like New York City and Washington, D.C. Severe weather and IT disruptions added to the chaos, making recovery strategies crucial.
McCartney emphasized that recovery is key: “When airplanes and crews are out of place, gates are full and passengers are stranded, how an airline recovers greatly impacts overall performance.” While some airlines have turned to AI to solve these issues, Canadian carriers still have work to do to keep up with the best in the biz.
Canadian airports left off the map
Globally, the top-performing airports were led by Riyadh King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, with 86.65% of its flights leaving on time. Lima, Peru; Mexico City, Mexico; Salt Lake City, U.S.; and Santiago, Chile rounded out the top spots.
Broken down into size categories, Riyadh King Khalid took the top spot on the list of large airports, Panama City Tocumen International Airport in Panama won out in the medium category, and Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Ecuador topped the list of small airports.
And Canada’s airports? Nowhere to be seen. Our airports didn’t even crack the top 20 — in any category. Woof.
What this means for your travel plans
For frequent flyers, these rankings highlight how reliable (or not) an airline or airport might be when planning trips. Cirium’s methodology relies on over 600 data feeds to track gate times and cancellations. While the review acknowledges challenges like severe weather and staffing shortages, the numbers don’t lie — and Canada’s aviation industry clearly has its work cut out for it.
Whether you’re flying Air Canada or WestJet, or taking off from a Canadian airport, the message is clear: We’ve got a long way to go to match global standards.
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AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog’s Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.
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