Chocolate recalls at Costco Canada: threats or opportunities for Quebec SMEs?

During 2024 and 2025, the Canadian chocolate market was rocked by a series of recalls affecting products sold in several major banners, including Costco. Salmonella-contaminated pistachios, undeclared allergens (wheat, soy, hazelnuts), physical risks (possible presence of stones): these incidents are multiplying and worrying consumers. For Quebec agri-food SMEs, these recalls may seem threatening, but they also open up a strategic window of opportunity to stand out through transparency, traceability and digital innovation. This article offers an overview of recent trends related to chocolate recalls in Canada, with a focus on Costco, and explains how Quebec companies can turn this context into a growth driver, thanks in particular to AI, CRM and e-commerce.

1. What Canada’s 2024-2025 chocolate recalls reveal

Chocolate recalls in Canada are not new, but their frequency and media coverage have increased, particularly since 2024. The main common denominator: food safety and labelling issues that directly affect consumer confidence.

In 2024, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a recall for Dubai Oasis Treasures pistachio chocolate bars due to a risk of salmonella contamination, sold notably in Ontario and elsewhere in the country, with a specific lot expiration date of July 2025. ([cp24.com](https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2024/12/10/recall-issued-for-pistachio-chocolate-brand-sold-across-canada-due-to-possible-salmonella/?utm_source=openai))

In 2025, several cases highlighted the fragility of the chocolate value chain:

• A recall of Milka Bubbly Alpine Milk bars in Canada for undeclared hazelnuts, after an allergic reaction reported by a consumer. ([cp24.com](https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2025/01/16/milka-chocolate-bars-recalled-due-to-undeclared-nuts-cfia/?utm_source=openai))
• Palm Bites chocolate date squares were recalled in Canada in early 2025 for salmonella risk, with products sold in stores and online, automatically extending the geographic scope of the recall. ([insauga.com](https://www.insauga.com/recall-chocolate-sold-in-canada-poses-salmonella-risk/?utm_source=openai))
• Also in 2025, the CFIA linked a salmonella outbreak to various pistachio products, including pastries and chocolate products, with 62 cases reported in four provinces, including Quebec, and several hospitalizations. ([eatingwell.com](https://www.eatingwell.com/salmonella-outbreak-pistachios-canada-11797155?utm_source=openai))

At the same time, recalls linked to physical hazards testify to increased pressure on quality controls. Batches of Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt and Everything Bar were recalled in Canada in 2025 for the potential presence of small stones, as part of an international recall involving 20 countries. ([cochraneobserver.ca](https://www.cochraneobserver.ca/cfia-recalls-tonys-chocolonely-chocolates-over-stone-contamination/?utm_source=openai))

Recalls are not limited to traditional retail brands. Dubai chocolate” products from various manufacturers (Les Sucreries Chocofolie, Chocolats Favoris, etc.) were also withdrawn from the market in 2025 in several provinces, including Quebec, in connection with the investigation of a salmonella outbreak. ([todocanada.ca](https://www.todocanada.ca/cfia-dubai-chocolates-recalled-due-to-salmonella-contamination/?utm_source=openai))

What this means for Quebec SMEs:

• The risks lie as much in the ingredients (pistachios, hazelnuts, wheat, soy) as in the manufacturing process and labeling.
• A single defective batch from a third-party supplier can lead to a massive recall, affecting several brands at once.
• Online sales and national distribution amplify the impact of a recall, but also the visibility of brands that manage the crisis well.

In this context, the recall is no longer an isolated incident: it is a structural indicator of the importance of quality governance, traceability and proactive communication.

2. Focus Costco Canada: the Peace by Chocolate recall and consumer perception

Recalls involving major retailers like Costco have a multiplier effect on public perception. In January 2026, Costco Canada issued an important recall notice concerning certain Peace by Chocolate products sold on Costco.ca between September and December 2025. These products contained pistachios potentially contaminated with salmonella, in connection with a recall initiated by ingredient supplier Tootsi Impex Inc ([customerservice.costco.ca](https://customerservice.costco.ca/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/1018819?utm_source=openai)).

The products concerned included :

• “Our Classic Box – 15 assorted filled chocolates” (160 g), several batches with “best before” dates between September and November 2026.
• “The Peace Maker Specialty Bars – The Harmony Bar” (92 g) with “best before” dates extending to 2027.

Costco also had to deal with a recall of pistachio-filled “Dubai-style” chocolate, this time linked to an undeclared wheat allergen, for a product sold between May and August 2025. Although the risk was deemed “minimal” (gluten already indicated, presence expected in kunafa), the incident shows how labeling issues can generate recall and public scrutiny. ([ca.news.yahoo.com](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/costco-recalls-dubai-style-chocolate-184218763.html?utm_source=openai))

For consumers, these repeated recalls send out several signals:

• Health concerns: salmonella, allergic risks and the presence of foreign bodies create a feeling of vulnerability, especially among families and immunosuppressed people.
• Suspicion of major brands: with the same types of incidents recurring, some customers are turning more to local products perceived as more “authentic” and better controlled.
• Higher expectations of transparency: customers want to understand quickly which batches are affected, the origin of the problem ingredient, and how the company will prevent it from happening again.

For a retailer like Costco, the response is multi-pronged:

• Management of in-store and online refunds and withdrawals.
• Communication via e-mail to members, site notices and media.
• Increased pressure on suppliers to improve traceability and compliance.

Why is this an opportunity for Quebec SMEs?

When a major player is associated with recurring recalls, it opens up space for smaller brands that are able to prove their seriousness when it comes to quality:

• Offer a clearly identified origin (for example, chocolates made in Quebec with traceable ingredients).
• Put forward certifications (organic, fair trade, priority allergen-free) and additional controls.
• Communicate directly and personally with customers, something that big brands sometimes struggle to do.

This is precisely where the integration of digital tools – AI, chatbots, CRM, e-commerce platforms – can make all the difference for an SME that wants to take advantage of the post-call context to gain market share.

3. Strategic opportunities for Quebec SMEs: quality, traceability and confidence

The market does not forgive repeated failures, but it does reward companies that demonstrate exemplary quality and information management. For a Quebec SME producing or distributing chocolate, confectionery or nut products, the recalls associated with Costco and other chains should be seen as a strategic lever.

Here are a few concrete areas of opportunity:

Reinforce traceability and batch management

The Peace by Chocolate recalls linked to a specific batch of pistachios show just how important data granularity is: knowing quickly which batches, which dates and which sales channels are affected enables us to react quickly and limit damage.

• Set up a CRM-integrated batch tracking system to link each customer order to one or more production batches.
• Automate internal alerts when certain raw materials come from high-risk suppliers or are subject to CFIA alerts.
• Keep detailed histories to be able to demonstrate complete product traceability in the event of inspection or dispute.

With a CRM partner like Nuaweb, an SME can structure its production and sales data to anticipate and manage any quality incidents more effectively.

Capitalize on proximity and the “Made in Quebec” concept

When faced with recalls involving products imported or manufactured elsewhere in Canada, Quebec consumers are often more receptive to messages focusing on :

• Local production and a direct relationship with the manufacturer.
• Short circuits and better visibility of the supply chain.
• Concrete commitments: supplier audits, high hygiene standards, simplified recipes with fewer priority allergens.

SMEs can integrate these benefits into their web presence (website, online store, detailed product sheets) and communication campaigns, using educational content on allergens, salmonella and the controls in place.

Turning compliance into a marketing advantage

Instead of seeing the requirements of the CFIA and the big banners as mere constraints, SMEs can turn them into an element of differentiation:

• Highlight the fact that products are formulated to minimize priority allergens (e.g. peanut and nut-free, or gluten-free ranges).
• Publish clear quality commitments on the website and social media, with simple, visual explanations.
• Use third-party certifications (gluten-free, organic, etc.) as tangible proof.

These messages need to be consistent across all platforms, from transactional sites to newsletters, which requires a solid digital foundation, including a CRM and a well-planned content strategy.

4. Taking action: AI, CRM and e-commerce to secure and develop your sales

The chocolate recalls at Costco Canada and elsewhere highlight a key point: without integrated digital tools, it’s very difficult for an SME to manage information, customers and reputation quickly. This is whereAI, CRM and e-commerce solutions become essential.

Inform and reassure with AI and chatbots

When a nationwide recall is announced, customers’ inboxes fill up with questions: “Is my batch affected?”, “Can I still consume this product?”, “How can I get a refund?”. A well-configured conversational assistant on your site can :

• Instant answers to frequently asked questions about allergens, batch numbers and best-before dates.
• Guide customers through an automated return or exchange process.
• Collect data on consumer concerns, to improve your products and communications.

A specialized agency like Nuaweb can help you deploy AI-powered chatbots tailored to your reality as a Quebec SME, in both French and English.

Centralize customer information with CRM

A well-established CRM becomes a strategic tool in the event of a recall:

• Quickly identify which customers have purchased a product linked to a particular batch.
• Segment these customers and send them personalized communications (e-mail, SMS) with the right instructions.
• Track customer responses, refunds and claims, to document crisis management.

Beyond the reminder, this same CRM allows you to build loyalty campaigns, automate your B2B sales follow-up and optimize your customer service. To structure this approach, explore the solutions offered by Nuaweb – Gestion CRM.

Secure and diversify your channels with e-commerce

Recent recalls also show that online sales amplify the impact of an incident. But if properly managed, it can become a channel of control and transparency:

• Detailed product sheets with allergens, origin of ingredients and recall updates.
• Tools for prioritized notification of online store customers who have purchased a product concerned.
• Ability to rapidly roll out new ranges (e.g. nut-free, gluten-free chocolate) in response to emerging concerns.

A well-designed e-commerce platform also makes it possible to test new markets (English Canada, export) while retaining control over the information transmitted to customers.

A credible website as a basis for trust

Finally, your brand’s credibility depends on a professional, up-to-date and easy-to-navigate website. It’s the point of reference to which you’ll refer the media, distributors and customers in the event of an incident. A well-designed site must :

• Clearly present your quality commitments and certifications.
• Integrate a “Notices and reminders” area to quickly display official information when needed.
• Be optimized for search engine optimization (SEO) so that when a customer searches for “chocolate reminder + your brand”, they first come across your version of the facts.

To build this digital foundation, call on a team specialized in website creation for SMEs in Quebec.

Conclusion: turning chocolate recalls into a competitive advantage

The chocolate recalls that occurred in Canada between 2024 and 2026 – whether due to salmonella risks associated with pistachios, undeclared allergens such as wheat, soy or hazelnuts, or physical risks such as the presence of stones – highlighted the vulnerability of the entire agri-food chain. Major players such as Costco Canada have had to deal with high-profile recalls of products such as Peace by Chocolate and “Dubai” chocolates. For Quebec SMEs, this context may seem worrying, but it also reveals a shift in confidence: consumers are looking for brands capable of demonstrating rigorous traceability, transparent communication and exemplary responsiveness.

By investing in digital traceability, CRM, AI chatbots ande-commerce, SMEs can not only better protect themselves in the event of a recall, but also strengthen their brand image and gain market share against competitors who are slower to adapt. A credible website, comprehensive product sheets and well-orchestrated communication campaigns transform regulatory constraints into genuine marketing assets.

If you’re a Quebec-based SME in the food sector, chocolate maker, distributor or retailer, and you want to take advantage of this context to stand out from the crowd, the Nuaweb team can support you: digital strategy, AI and chatbots, CRM, e-commerce and custom website creation. Schedule a free consultation with Nuaweb today to assess your risks and opportunities and build a digital strategy that protects your brand while accelerating your growth.