Lidl has issued an urgent “do not eat” alert for specific batches of its red hen 4 tempura chicken steaks after a labelling error that could pose serious risks to customers with a milk allergy. The recall applies to packs sold in both the UK and Ireland, with affected customers advised to return the product for a full refund.
The issue stems from milk not being highlighted in bold on the ingredient list, as required by food safety regulations. According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), this omission may endanger individuals who are allergic or intolerant to milk.
Recall Details and Affected Batches
According to the FSA, the product recall involves red hen 4 tempura chicken steaks (380g) with the following best before dates:
- 11/12/2026
- 16/12/2026
- 22/12/2026
- 30/12/2026
- 16/01/2027
The FSA stated that the presence of undeclared milk “may be a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to milk.” Similarly, the FSAI confirmed that in Ireland, the same batches are being withdrawn from sale to protect consumers.
Lidl has also issued point-of-sale notices in its stores to inform customers about the recall. These notices explain the nature of the issue and provide clear guidance for affected shoppers. Customers are advised not to eat the product and instead return it to any Lidl branch, where a full refund will be provided, even without a receipt.
Supermarket Response and Consumer Guidance
In a statement, Lidl GB confirmed that it “is recalling the above-mentioned product due to milk not being in bold within the back-of-pack ingredients,” emphasising that the move is a precautionary step to safeguard consumers. The retailer added that it has contacted relevant allergy support organisations to ensure that those at risk are made aware of the situation.
Meanwhile, Lidl Ireland issued an apology for the inconvenience caused and urged customers with concerns to contact its customer services team. The supermarket stressed that no other red hen products or batches are affected by this recall.
Both the FSA and FSAI highlighted that proper allergen labelling is critical in preventing severe allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening for some individuals. For shoppers who do not suffer from a milk allergy, the product is safe to consume.
