Take a quick look at your freezer. If you shop at Lidl and you grabbed a pint of coffee and vanilla gelato at some point this summer or fall, it is worth checking the bottom of that container today. Lidl US has recalled one lot of a Gelatelli gelato after routine testing turned up a germ you do not want in your dessert.
The company announced the recall on October 16, 2026, and the FDA posted it the next day. Here is what you need to know, and exactly how to tell whether your pint is one of the ones affected.
What Was Recalled
The product is Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces. According to the announcement posted by the FDA, Lidl US is recalling a single lot of the 16 fluid ounce, one pint size. The company said the gelato has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The recall began after routine quality testing identified Listeria monocytogenes on a lab sample. No illnesses have been reported to date.
How to Check Your Pint
This is one lot only, so the details matter. Look at the bottom of the container for these identifiers:
- Product: Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces, 16 fl oz (1 pint)
- UPC: 4 0564897 22458
- Lot: 085261
- Best By: MAR/26/2028
The company describes the packaging as a clear plastic container with a brown lid. If your pint does not match the UPC, lot number and best by date, it is not part of this recall.
Where and When It Was Sold
The recalled gelato was distributed between July 19, 2026 and October 15, 2026. It went to all Lidl US retail store locations in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
That window is long, a bit under three months. Ice cream and gelato stay good in a freezer for a long time, and the best by date on this lot is more than a year away, so a pint bought in the summer could easily still be sitting behind the frozen peas.
Why Listeria Is Taken Seriously
Lidl’s announcement explains that Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The announcement also notes that infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
That is why a recall like this one asks everyone to take it seriously, even when no one has reported getting sick.
Why the Lot Number Matters
Lidl is recalling one lot, not every gelato it sells. That is why the UPC, the lot number and the best by date all matter. Two pints of the same flavor can sit side by side in the freezer case and only one of them be part of a recall. Do not guess from the flavor or the lid color alone. Flip the container over and read the numbers.
If You Already Ate Some
No illnesses have been reported to date, so there is no reason to panic. Still, if you ate this gelato and you develop symptoms like the ones listed above, or you belong to a group the company says is at higher risk, such as someone who is pregnant, elderly or has a weakened immune system, it is sensible to call your health care provider and mention it.
What to Do If You Have It
Lidl’s instructions are simple. Customers should immediately discard the recalled product, or return it to their nearest Lidl store for a full refund. A receipt is not required for the return.
- Do not eat it. Not even a small taste, and do not serve it to guests or grandchildren.
- Match the numbers. Check the UPC, lot number and best by date before you decide.
- Throw it out or take it back. Either one is fine under the company’s instructions. Returning it gets you a full refund.
- Call with questions. The Lidl US Customer Care Hotline is (844) 747-5435, Monday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern.
A Few Good Freezer Habits
Recalls are a lot easier to handle when you know what you bought and when. A couple of small habits help:
- Keep the front of the freezer tidy so older items do not get buried.
- If you live in one of the states listed above, glance at the bottom of any gelato or ice cream pints you picked up at Lidl since mid July.
- Sign up for store or FDA recall alerts so you hear the news before the pint hits your spoon.
- When in doubt about a recalled food, throw it out or return it rather than gambling.
The Bottom Line
Lidl says the problem was found through its own routine quality testing, and the company says it regrets any inconvenience. For you, the job takes about thirty seconds: open the freezer, flip the pint over and read the bottom. If the numbers match, it goes back to the store or into the trash. If they do not, your dessert is fine to enjoy.
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