Urgent recall of coffee and vanilla ice cream sold at Lidl upgraded to highest risk level over contamination with listeria
A recall of ice cream sold at Lidl grocery stores has been upgraded to the highest warning level over potential contamination with deadly bacteria.
Last month, Lidl US voluntarily recalled one lot of its Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce and Cookie Pieces because it could be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a type of bacteria that causes bloody diarrhea, severe muscle aches and, in rare cases, dehydration which can be life threatening.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now classified the recall as Class I after tests revealed the presence of listeria.
A Class I recall is the agency’s most serious warning, meaning ‘there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.’
No illnesses have been reported in connection to the recall.
The 1,122 units were distributed between July 19 and October 15, 2026 ‘to all Lidl US retail stores,’ the FDA says, which are in Washington DC and nine states: Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
The gelato was sold in 16floz or 1pt containers with the UPC 4 0564897 22458 and lot number 085261. All containers had a best-by date of March 26, 2028.
Lidl has urged customers who purchased the gelato to immediately discard it or return it to their nearest Lidl store for a full refund.
A gelato recall was classified as Class I due to the presence of listeria monocytogenes
The recall was initiated in October after routine testing identified listeria on a lab sample. Further testing revealed a positive listeria result on the product, sparking the Class I designation.
Lidl said in a statement: ‘The health and safety of our customers is our top priority.
‘Lidl US regrets any inconvenience related to this voluntary recall. Our Quality Assurance Department is constantly working to ensure that all products on our shelves meet the high-quality standards that we would expect when feeding our own families.
‘We are grateful for all our Lidl US customers who choose to shop with us every day.’
The FDA describes listeria as a ‘remarkably tough organism’ that can survive even in cold environments.
Freezing prevents it from multiplying but does not kill it.
Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.
The bacterium can be found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive refrigeration and other food preservation measures.
The front and bottom of a container of the recalled gelato is pictured above
Many foods can harbor the bug, but it is usually found in unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses and ready-to-eat foods, such as pre-packed sandwiches. Cooked shellfish, cured meats and fish, including sushi and pre-cut fruit, are also a risk.
While most of the 1,250 Americans infected with listeriosis each year recover on their own, the infection can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
About 250 Americans die of the infection each year, which can occur if the infection spreads beyond the gut and affects the central nervous system.
