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Lidl US recalled its Favorina-branded chocolate advent calendars after routine testing found that the product may be contaminated with salmonella.
The bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults, young children and people with weakened immune systems.
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The affected calendars were sold from Oct. 12 to Dec. 5 in 8.4-ounce packages containing “premium chocolate with a creamy filling” with a ‘best if used by’ year of 2023. They have the barcode number 4056489516965.
Although the company says it has not received any complaints of illness related to the products, Lidl is advising customers not to consume the product and to immediately return it to their nearest location for a full refund. A receipt is not required.
“Lidl US regrets any inconvenience related to this voluntary recall, which is issued in keeping with our focus on customer health and safety,” it said in a statement. “Our Quality Assurance Department works around the clock to ensure that all products on our shelves meet the high-quality standards that we would expect when feeding our own families.”
Customers with additional questions about this recall may call Lidl’s Customer Care Hotline at 1-844-747-5435 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Saturday.
Lidl US has 170 stores in nine East Coast states and Washington, D.C.
Symptoms of salmonella infection
Salmonellosis, the intestinal infection caused by the salmonella bacteria, typically leads to diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. In severe cases, the infection can spread from the intestines to the urine, blood, bones, joints, spinal fluid or brain. Symptoms begin six hours to six days after infection and can last for up to seven days. However, in some instances, symptoms can appear weeks after infection or remain for several weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A confirmed diagnosis is made when a lab test determines that the bacteria is present in a person’s stool, body tissue or fluids. Most people can recover without an antibiotic, but treatment is recommended for anyone with severe illness. Infected adults over age 65 (or over 50 if an underlying condition such as heart disease is present), infants and those with a weakened immune system are also advised to take an antibiotic.
Visit our Consumer Safety and Product Recalls page for more information.
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