Lidl Gelato Recall Raised to FDA's Highest Risk Level Over Listeria: Check the Lot Number

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has raised Lidl's Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato recall to Class I, its most serious risk classification, after a product sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The Class I classification was recorded on November 3, 2026.

Class I is the FDA's highest risk level. It means there is a reasonable probability that eating the product could cause serious health problems or death. Lidl first announced the recall voluntarily on October 16, 2026, after routine quality testing found Listeria in a lab sample — and the recall is still listed as ongoing, so pints bought in the summer may still be sitting in home freezers, with a best-by date of March 26, 2028.

Which gelato is recalled?

The recall covers only one product and one lot: Gelatelli Naturally Flavored Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces, in a 16 fl oz (1 pint) container. Check for these details:

UPC: 4 0564897 22458  |  Lot: 085261  |  Best by: March 26, 2028  |  Quantity: 1,122 pints

It was sold from July 19 to October 15, 2026 at all Lidl US stores in Washington, D.C., Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia. No illnesses had been reported as of Lidl's October 16 announcement, and the November 3 update does not report any change to that.

Same Listeria wave as the salmon recall

This is the second Class I Listeria recall raised by the FDA on November 3 — the same day the Starfish Seafood smoked salmon recall was raised to Class I. Both recalls involve ready-to-eat refrigerated or frozen foods with long shelf lives, which is why the FDA's warning still matters weeks after the first announcement: the product may already be in a shopper's freezer, not on the store shelf.

Lidl has had a Class I recall before this year: in August 2026 its Vitasia Asian Style Wok Spice Mix was recalled over Salmonella. Return the gelato to any Lidl store for a full refund — no receipt is needed.

What is Listeria, and who is most at risk?

Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an infection that is often mild in healthy adults but can be severe — even life-threatening — for pregnant women, people aged 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems. Unlike many bacteria, Listeria can keep growing at refrigerator temperatures. Symptoms can appear days to weeks after eating contaminated food and can include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea, and in severe cases stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance.

This is the same pattern behind the site's most-read recall stories: frozen and refrigerated foods with long shelf lives keep reaching new readers for weeks after the recall. Readers who missed the October announcement may still have the product at home, so check the lot number before eating it.

What to do if you bought it

Do not eat the recalled gelato. Return it to any Lidl store for a full refund, or dispose of it safely so nobody eats it by mistake. Clean any freezer surfaces, utensils and containers that touched it, and watch for symptoms if you already ate some — contact a healthcare professional promptly if you are pregnant, older, immunocompromised, or develop symptoms. Questions can go to Lidl US Customer Care at 844-747-5435, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Lidl gelato is recalled?

Gelatelli Naturally Flavored Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces, 16 fl oz (1 pint), UPC 4 0564897 22458, Lot 085261, best by March 26, 2028.

Which states sold the recalled gelato?

Washington, D.C., Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.

Has anyone fallen ill from this gelato?

No illnesses had been reported as of Lidl's October 16, 2026 announcement. The Class I classification reflects the seriousness of Listeria risk, not confirmed illnesses.

What does an FDA Class I recall mean?

It is the FDA's highest risk level, used when there is a reasonable probability that a product will cause serious health problems or death.

References

• FDA Enforcement Report — Gelatelli Gelato, Recall H-0193-2027, Class I, 1,122 units, Lot 085261
• The Healthy — Ice Cream Recall Gets FDA's Highest Risk Level Over Listeria Concerns (Nov 5, 2026)
• Pirates and Princesses — Ice cream recall: FDA puts Lidl gelato in its highest risk class (Nov 7, 2026)
• Medical Daily — Lidl Gelatelli Gelato Recall Over Listeria Gets FDA's Highest Risk Rating (Nov 6, 2026)