Lidl food recall: Supermarket issues urgent warning for snack product over allergy fears
LIDL supermarket has issued a food recall warning for one of its products due to mislabelling. Do you have the affected item? This is what you need to do if it's in your cupboards.
Lidl has announced it is recalling a food product stocked in its supermarkets. The German company has urged shoppers not to eat a certain snack bar. This is the Alesto Raw Fruit & Nut Bar Cacao & Orange Variant.
Lidl issued the food recall after discovering it contained sulphur dioxide which is an allergen.
The preservative and antioxidant was not mentioned on the label of the bars.
Those with a sensitivity to the chemical could be at risk if they eat the Alesto product.
Customers are urged to return the product for a refund.
READ MORE: Easter bank holidays: Supermarket opening times over Easter
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) revealed the details of the latest Lidl food recall online.
“Lidl is recalling Alesto Raw Fruit & Nut Bar Cacao & Orange Variant because it contains sulphur dioxide which is not mentioned on the label,” said the FSA.
“This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with a sensitivity to sulphur dioxide and/or sulphites.”
The product details are as follows:
Product: Alesto Raw Fruit & Nut Bar Cacao & Orange
Pack size: 35g
Best before: end date: October 2020
Allergens: Sulphur dioxide and/or sulphites
The FSA explained what action had been taken by the supermarket company.
“Lidl is recalling the above product from customers and been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.”
Lidl explained a warning to customers: “If you have bought the above product, and have an allergy or intolerance to sulphur dioxide, we advise you not to eat it.
“Instead, if you are already making an essential trip to a Lidl GB store you can return the item to the store for a full refund, with or without a receipt.
“Alternatively, please dispose of the product and email customer.services@lidl.co.uk including a photo of the affected product and Best Before End date.
“The Customer Services team will process this refund via letter. Other Alesto products, variants and Best Before End dates are not affected by this recall.
“Lidl GB wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
“Any customers with queries or concerns can contact Customer Services on 0370 444 1234 or customer.services@lidl.co.uk.”
The FSA also explained what allergy alerts meant for consumers.
“Sometimes there will be a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold,” the authority detailed.
“Then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product).
“Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk. When there is a food allergy risk, the FSA will issue an Allergy Alert.”
Is Lidl open over Easter?
On Good Friday inside the M25 Lidl will be open as usual and elsewhere it will be open from 8am to 8pm.
Stores across the country will be open as normal on Easter Saturday.
On Easter Sunday, all stores will be closed.
Stores will again reopen from 8am to 8pm across the UK, but will have usual trading hours inside the M25.
Check your local Lidl's opening hours using their store finder here.