Listeria Risk Prompts Shrimp Recall At MD Grocery Store Chain

MARYLAND — The grocery chain Lidl is recalling a prepackaged cocktail shrimp item sold in nine states, including Maryland, because of possible listeria contamination.

The company announced a voluntary recall of ready-to-eat cocktail shrimp sold in a seven-ounce package with the “Tapas Cocktail Shrimp by Lidl” brand, which was distributed to all U.S. locations, including Maryland stores.

Routine testing on this product revealed that the finished product contained Listeria monocytogenes, Lidl said. Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, or those with weakened immune systems. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women, the Food and Drug Administration said.

Listeria can also affect individuals without underlying medical conditions with short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Lidl stopped producing the Tapas-branded cocktail shrimp while it investigates with the FDA, and said it has received no reports or complaints of illness related to the product as of March 1.

Affected products will have a UPC of 4056489411499, said Lidl. Customers who bought this product and have not consumed it may return it to their nearest Lidl store for a full refund, the company said.

Lidl has about 21 stores in Maryland, according to the store locator.

The German company has opened more than 170 stores on the East Coast in recent years, with Arlington-based Lidl US overseeing the expansion.

Customers with questions about the voluntary recall may call the Lidl US Customer Care Hotline at (844)-747-5435 (8 a.m.-8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday-Saturday).

Lidl US has stores in Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.

Read the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recall announcement for more information.