Check Your Freezer: Ice Cream Recalled Over Potential Listeria Contamination
Lidl shoppers should take a moment to check their freezers for a specific lot of Gelatelli coffee-and-vanilla gelato. Lidl US announced a recall after routine quality testing detected Listeria monocytogenes in a laboratory sample, prompting the retailer to recall the potentially contaminated lot.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the company’s announcement on October 17, 2026. According to the announcement, no illnesses had been reported when the recall was announced. The recall affects one specific lot, so shoppers should check the product details carefully before deciding whether their gelato is included.
Which Gelatelli Product Has Been Recalled?
The recall covers Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces. The product combines coffee-and-vanilla gelato with coffee sauce and cookie pieces, but the recall is limited to a particular lot rather than the entire Gelatelli range.
Lidl US announced the recall on October 16, 2026, following the laboratory finding. The FDA subsequently published the retailer’s announcement, making the product identification details available to consumers.
If you have Gelatelli gelato at home, check the container before assuming it is part of the recall. The product name alone is not enough to establish whether your container belongs to the affected lot.
How to Identify the Recalled Gelato
Shoppers can use the product’s packaging, UPC, lot code, and best-by date to determine whether their container matches the recall information.
Here are the verified identifying details:
- Product name: Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces
- Container size: 16 FL OZ (1 PT)
- UPC: 4 0564897 22458
- Lot code: 085261
- Best-by date: MAR/26/2028
- Packaging: Clear plastic container with a brown lid
- Location of identifying information: Bottom of the container
The lot code and best-by date are particularly important when checking your freezer. Turn the container over and compare the printed information with the details above.
If the product name, lot code, and date match the recall information, follow Lidl’s instructions for the affected product. Do not assume that another Gelatelli flavor or a container with a different lot code is included in this particular recall.
Keeping the identifying details together makes the process easier. Rather than relying only on the appearance of the packaging, compare the information printed on the bottom of the container.
Related: The 5 Best Ice Cream Flavors You Must Try
Where Was the Recalled Gelato Distributed?
According to Lidl’s announcement published by the FDA, the affected lot was distributed through Lidl stores from July 19 through October 15, 2026.
The distribution covered nine states and Washington, D.C. The affected states are Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Washington, D.C., was also included in the distribution area.
These locations define the distribution area identified in the recall announcement. The information does not establish that every Lidl store or every customer in those locations received the affected product.
Shoppers who purchased the gelato during the distribution period should check the lot code and best-by date rather than relying on the purchase date alone. The identifying details provide a more precise way to determine whether a container matches the recall.
Why Did Lidl Recall the Gelato?
Lidl US recalled the product after routine quality testing detected Listeria monocytogenes in a laboratory sample. The company described the affected lot as potentially contaminated.
This distinction matters because the finding concerned a laboratory sample. The announcement does not state that every container in the lot tested positive.
The recall applies to the identified lot of Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces. It should not be interpreted as a recall of every Gelatelli product, all Lidl gelato, or the retailer’s entire range of frozen desserts.
At the time of the recall announcement, no illnesses had been reported. That statement reflects the information provided when Lidl announced the recall, rather than a newly established count of illnesses as of a later date.
For shoppers, the practical step is straightforward: verify the product’s identifying information and follow the retailer’s instructions if the container matches the recalled lot.
What Should You Do If You Have the Recalled Gelato?
Lidl’s instructions give customers two options if they have the affected product: discard it or return it to their nearest Lidl store for a full refund.
Customers do not need a receipt to receive the refund, according to the recall information. This means shoppers who identify a matching container can follow either of the stated options without needing to locate their original purchase receipt.
Before taking action, check the product name, UPC, lot code, and best-by date on the bottom of the container. These details help distinguish the recalled lot from other products that may look similar.
If your container matches the recall information, do not treat it as an ordinary freezer item. Follow the discard or return instructions provided by Lidl US.
The recall announcement does not establish that all Gelatelli products are affected, so shoppers should avoid applying the recall to unrelated products without matching identifying details.
Related: 7 Foods That Contain More Calcium Than a Glass of Milk
How to Contact Lidl US About the Recall
Customers who have questions about the recalled gelato can contact Lidl US Customer Care at 844-747-5435. The customer-care team is available Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Shoppers who are uncertain about the identifying information can use the provided customer-care number to ask questions about the recall. The number and operating hours are the contact details specified in Lidl’s announcement.
Check the Exact Product Before You Decide
This recall concerns one specific lot of Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces, not every frozen dessert sold by Lidl. The lot code, best-by date, UPC, and packaging details offer shoppers a clear way to check whether a container in their freezer is affected.
If you find a matching product, discard it or return it to your nearest Lidl store for a full refund without a receipt. If you need clarification, contact Lidl US Customer Care using the number and hours provided in the recall announcement.
