Lidl recalls chocolate Advent calendars over potential salmonella contamination

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Discount grocer Lidl US, which has more than two dozen locations across New Jersey, is voluntarily recalling an Advent calendar because the cream-filled chocolate inside may contain salmonella.

The 8.4-ounce Favorina-branded seasonal items were sold at Lidl stores between Oct. 5 and Dec. 5, have a “best-if-used-by” year of 2023 and a barcode number of 4056489516965, the Arlington, Va.-based chain said in a Dec. 6 notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Salmonella – a bacteria that sickens tens of thousands of Americans each year – was detected during routine product testing, said Lidl, noting that it has not received any report of illness related to the product to date.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), salmonella can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Young children and immunocompromised people may experience more serious illness, which can lead to death.

Shoppers who purchased the recalled products should not eat the candy, but instead return it to a Lidl store for a refund, according to Lidl.

Anyone with questions about the recall is encouraged to call the Lidl Customer Care Hotline at 1-844-747-5435 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Mondays through Saturdays.

Founded 40 years ago in Germany, the chain has more than 12,000 stores in 32 countries. After establishing a U.S. headquarters in June 2015, Lidl opened 170 stores across nine states and Washington, D.C.