Shortbread cookies sold at multiple Lidl stores are being recalled over fears they could trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction.
The recall covers Eridanous Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate Truffle Coating and Apricot Filling. The cookies were found to contain wheat, soy, milk and eggs that were not listed in English on the packaging.
Officials warned that anyone with an allergy or sensitivity to those ingredients could suffer a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consumed the product.
The cookies were sold in 11.6-ounce blue boxes. The ingredients were listed in a foreign language on the back of the box, but not in English.
They were available at every Lidl store in nine states in the South and Northeast, and in the District of Columbia, between July 15 and July 22 this year. The states are Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
No illnesses or injuries have been reported to date. Anyone with the cookies at home has been urged to throw them out or return them to the seller for a full refund. A receipt is not required.
It was not clear how the labeling error occurred, but it can happen when products made for a foreign market are imported into the US.
Lidl responds
A spokesman for Lidl said the health and safety of customers is the company's 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.
Scale of food allergies
About 30 to 50 million Americans have a milk sensitivity, which can cause digestive issues, hives and swelling. About 6.7 million Americans have a milk allergy, which can lead to severe reactions including life-threatening complications and anaphylaxis.
About six million Americans are allergic to eggs, while nearly two million have either a soy or wheat allergy. In some cases, allergies can be so severe that even allowing milk or eggs to touch the lips can cause a reaction.
Allergies are caused by the immune system misidentifying a substance as a threat and attacking it, triggering an allergic reaction. Warning signs include hives, wheezing, itching or tingling around the lips or mouth, coughing or shortness of breath.
In severe cases, a patient can develop anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction where the airways narrow and can block breathing. About 82 million people in the US suffer from at least one allergy, and those with a family history of allergies have a slightly higher risk of developing the condition.
Treatment includes avoiding the allergy trigger and taking medications such as antihistamines, which can calm the immune system and relieve allergy symptoms.
