Discount supermarket chain Lidl has issued an urgent recall of its festive Easter chocolates across the United States due to an undeclared allergen. The affected product, Favorina Chocolate Ladybugs, a German-style nougat, contains hazelnuts that were not listed on the packaging, posing a potentially life-threatening risk to individuals with hazelnut allergies.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the chocolates were distributed between January 28 and March 11 in multiple states, including Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. No illnesses have been reported so far.
The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product containing tree nuts was sold in packaging that did not reveal the presence of hazelnuts. The FDA advisory warned customers who purchased the product not to consume it and to return it immediately to their nearest Lidl store for a full refund.
In a statement, Lidl US said: “The health and safety of our customers is our top priority. Lidl US regrets any inconvenience related to this voluntary recall. 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. We are grateful for all our Lidl US customers who choose to shop with us every day.”
