Recall at the discounter: Lidl has to stop selling herbs

Created: 08/05/2022, 09:11

By: Julian Kaiser

Because of a mishap, a company has to recall its Lidl parsley.

For a large demographic, recall is important.

NRW – Food recalls keep coming.

In a current case, herbs from the discounter giant Lidl have to be removed from the range.

In contrast to other serious product recalls, only one consumer group is at risk in this one - but it is very large.

Herb recall at Lidl: Parsley is very popular with many gourmets

Parsley is a popular kitchen herb not only for garden owners.

Gourmets, for example, swear by the stress-relieving antioxidant to refine cold dishes such as salads, raw vegetables or dips based on yoghurt or quark.

However, according to the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), the following parsley product is now affected by a recall:

• Product name: Flat parsley

• Manufacturer/ distributor: Fossa Eugenia BV

• Sold by: Lidl

• Packaging unit: 40 grams

• Origin: Italy

• Lot identification: Lot L3006 EH 10

Herb recall at Lidl: Celery in Lidl parsley is a real problem for allergy sufferers

As the Dutch manufacturer explains in its press release, the affected product may contain celery.

What does not appear dramatic at first glance turns out to be a real problem for a population group on closer inspection, as RUHR24 reports.

In northern Europe, celery root is “one of the most common causes of food allergies,” reports the German Green Cross (DGK), an information portal for health issues.

According to the portal, around four to five out of 1000 people suffer from the allergy, which corresponds to a share of around 0.5 percent.

Herb recall at Lidl: About 0.5 percent of northern Europeans suffer from a celery allergy

For these numerous consumers, the Lidl recall is anything but unimportant.

After all, according to the wholesale chain Chefs Culinar, the symptoms of an allergic reaction to the herb, which is poisonous in certain conditions, can be

.

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Accordingly, "complaints in the gastrointestinal tract, skin reactions such as edema formation and asthma up to allergic shock could occur".

The much smaller number of "real" celery allergy sufferers are particularly at risk from eating it, as they react directly to the vegetable and show "severe allergic symptoms".

As the DGK explains, in some cases even a life-threatening anaphylactic shock is possible.

Herbal recall at Lidl: Allergy symptoms range from itching to life-threatening shock

However, the majority of cross-allergy sufferers who, according to Chefs Culinar ,

react cross-allergically to celery on the basis of a pollen allergy (...)" should take the recall seriously.

Finally, their more moderate symptoms, such as itching or tingling on their lips, tongue and mouth are generally very uncomfortable.

This Lidl parsley must be phased out.

© Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL)

After all, according to the manufacturer, the recall only affects Lidl parsley with

and the country of origin

.

All other Lidl products from Fossa Eugenia and parsley from other suppliers are not affected by the recall, the manufacturer assures.

The company did not explain how the unwanted celery got into the parsley.

Herb recall at Lidl: parsley was sold in thirteen federal states

The "parsley smooth, 40 g" was sold in thirteen federal states, including North Rhine-Westphalia.

Customers can return the recalled product in any Lidl branch and get their money back, even without presenting the receipt.

The supplier Fossa Eugenia BV apologizes to those affected "for the inconvenience caused".