WASHINGTON, DC — Federal regulators have elevated a Lidl gelato recall to the FDA’s highest risk category after a positive test for Listeria monocytogenes in the dessert. The action affects shoppers in Washington, D.C., and nine states where the frozen treat was distributed through Lidl U.S. stores.
Lidl first announced the recall on Oct. 16 after routine quality testing found the bacteria in a laboratory sample. On Nov. 3, the Food and Drug Administration classified it as a Class I recall, which the agency uses when there is a reasonable probability that exposure to the product could cause serious health consequences or death.
Which Lidl gelato was recalled and where it was sold
The recalled item is Gelatelli Naturally Flavored Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces in a 16-fluid-ounce pint. According to the FDA, the package carries UPC 4 0564897 22458, lot number 085261, and a best-by date of Mar/26/2028.
The product was distributed from July 19, 2026, through Oct. 15, 2026, to Lidl retail locations in Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The FDA said the ice cream-style dessert is sold in a clear plastic container with a brown lid, and the lot number and date are printed on the bottom.
Why the FDA treated this as a Class I recall
A Class I designation is the FDA’s most serious recall classification. It signals that using or being exposed to the affected product could reasonably lead to severe illness or even death.
The agency said the issue stems from listeria, a bacterium that can be especially dangerous in food products kept cold. Freezing does not destroy it, and that makes contaminated frozen foods a concern even when they appear safe to eat. The recall was elevated after Lidl received a positive result in testing, not because of a manufacturing change or a packaging defect.
What shoppers should do with the recalled gelato
Lidl is telling customers to either throw away the recalled gelato immediately or return it to the nearest Lidl store for a full refund. The company says no receipt is required.
The chain has also posted notice of the recall on its website. Lidl said its quality assurance team works to keep products up to the standards it would expect for its own families and that the company regrets any inconvenience tied to the voluntary recall.
Symptoms to watch for after possible listeria exposure
The FDA says common symptoms of listeria infection include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In more serious cases, the illness can also bring on headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Because listeria can cause severe disease, the agency treats contaminated food recalls with particular caution. The danger is heightened for people whose immune systems are more vulnerable, though the FDA’s warning applies broadly to anyone who may have bought the affected gelato.
Lidl’s U.S. footprint and what the recall means for customers
Lidl describes itself as an international grocery chain with stores in more than 30 countries and more than 190 locations along the East Coast in the United States. That footprint means the recall could reach a wide range of shoppers across several regions.
At the time Lidl first announced the action, no illnesses had been reported, and the Nov. 3 FDA update did not say whether that had changed. For customers who bought the coffee and vanilla gelato during the distribution window, the key step is to check the container for the matching UPC, lot number, and best-by date before eating it.
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