Lidl recalls Gelatelli gelato product over potential listeria contamination

Grocery chain Lidl has recalled a gelato product in New York and other states because of potential contamination by Listeria monocytogenes.

Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces, sold in 16-fluid ounce containers, was recalled after "routine quality testing identified Listeria monocytogenes present on a lab sample," Lidl US said in a news release.

No reported illnesses have been linked to the gelato, the news release said.

Lidl has more than 20 stores on Long Island.

The product also was recalled in Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

"Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women," the release said.

Lidl said in the release that the "health and safety of our customers is our top priority."

"Lidl US regrets any inconvenience related to this voluntary recall," the release said. "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."

The company encouraged customers to "immediately discard or return the recalled product to their nearest Lidl store for a full refund."

The grocery store chain in July recalled Eridanous shortbread cookies with chocolate truffle coating and apricot filling, sold in 11.6-ounce boxes, because of foreign-language packaging that was missing listings of ingredients, nutrition facts and allergen declarations in English.

By Joshua Needelman

joshua.needelman@newsday.com

Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.