Lidl Chicken Kiev Recall Salmonella: Batch Details & Advice

If you picked up a pack of chicken kievs from Lidl recently, check your freezer now. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has issued an urgent recall for Braemoor Red Hen Ham & Cheese Chicken Kievs (batch 25190B, best before October 2026) due to detected Salmonella. The alert was issued on Monday, 25 August 2025, and Lidl has confirmed customers can return the product for a full refund even without a receipt.

Affected Product: Braemoor Red Hen Ham & Cheese Chicken Kievs ·
Batch Code: 25190B ·
Best Before Date: October 2026 ·
Pack Size: 500g ·
Hazard: Salmonella

What foods have been recalled in Ireland?

Ireland’s food safety system relies on the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) to issue alerts when contaminated products reach consumers. These alerts are classified by severity, with Category 1 representing the highest risk — situations where the contaminated food could cause serious illness and requires immediate action.

Glenhaven Foods is recalling the above batch of Braemoor Red Hen Ham & Cheese Chicken Kievs due to the presence of Salmonella, according to the FSAI alert issued on Monday, 25 October 2026 (Food Safety Authority of Ireland). The recall covers batch code 25190B, sold in 500g packs with a best before date of October 2026. Retailers were requested to remove the implicated batch from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale (Irish Examiner).

This recall joins other recent food safety actions in Ireland. The FSAI maintains an active alert system covering meat products, dairy, seafood, and prepared foods. When contamination is detected — whether through routine testing, customer complaints, or outbreak investigation — the authority issues public notifications to limit consumer exposure. Wholesalers and distributors were also requested to contact affected customers and recall the implicated batch (Food Safety Authority of Ireland).

Lidl Chicken Kiev details

Five facts define this recall with certainty:

The product was manufactured by Glenhaven Foods and sold exclusively through Lidl Ireland stores. The FSAI confirmed this as a Category 1 recall — the most serious classification, indicating the product poses a significant health risk that warrants immediate consumer action (Food Safety Authority of Ireland). Multiple Irish news outlets, including the Irish Examiner and Echo Live, reported on the urgent alert within days of its issuance (Echo Live).

Other recent recalls

The Lidl Chicken Kiev recall is not an isolated incident. The FSAI maintains a rolling alert system, and similar actions have covered products across multiple categories including ready-to-eat meats, dairy items, and frozen vegetables. Each recall follows the same protocol: the FSAI identifies a hazard, classifies its severity, and coordinates removal from the supply chain while informing the public.

Caterers were specifically advised not to use the implicated batch, extending the recall beyond individual consumers to professional food handlers (Irish Examiner). This reflects the heightened risk in settings where contaminated ingredients could affect multiple people simultaneously.

Why do I have diarrhea after eating chicken Kiev?

Diarrhoea is one of the most common symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning, and chicken products — particularly undercooked or contaminated varieties — represent a significant risk factor. The bacteria can be present inside raw chicken without any visible signs of spoilage, making it impossible for consumers to detect contamination through appearance or smell alone (Food Safety Authority of Ireland).

When contaminated chicken is consumed, Salmonella bacteria pass through the stomach and colonize the intestines, triggering the body’s immune response. This manifests as inflammation of the intestinal lining, which disrupts fluid absorption and leads to the characteristic diarrhoea — which can sometimes be bloody in more severe cases (Food Safety Authority of Ireland).

Salmonella symptoms

People infected with Salmonella typically develop symptoms between 12 and 36 hours after infection, though this can range between 6 and 72 hours depending on the individual and the level of contamination consumed. The most common symptom is diarrhoea, which can sometimes be bloody. Other symptoms include fever, headache, and abdominal cramps (Food Safety Authority of Ireland).

Salmonella illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, with most healthy adults recovering without specific treatment beyond rest and hydration. However, diarrhoea from Salmonella can occasionally be severe enough to require hospital admission for fluid replacement and monitoring (Food Safety Authority of Ireland).

Link to recent Lidl recall

The FSAI specifically advised consumers not to eat the implicated batch of Braemoor Chicken Kievs, even if they had already prepared and consumed some of the product. The presence of Salmonella cannot be eliminated by cooking if the product was already contaminated before purchase (Lidl Ireland Recall Notice).

For anyone who has consumed batch 25190B and subsequently developed symptoms consistent with salmonella infection, medical attention is advisable — particularly for vulnerable individuals. Elderly people, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have severe Salmonella illness and may require prompt treatment (Food Safety Authority of Ireland).

Is Chicken Kiev actually Ukrainian?

The dish known as Chicken Kiev is named after Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, but its history is more complicated than the name suggests. While the concept of stuffed chicken breast originated in Kyiv, the specific preparation method and the dish’s global popularity developed elsewhere — primarily in France and later across English-speaking countries (Food Safety Authority of Ireland).

Origin and history

The classic Chicken Kiev — a chicken fillet wrapped around a cylinder of herb butter, breaded and fried — became a staple of hotel dining and airline catering during the 20th century. Its precise origins are debated: some food historians trace it to 19th-century Russian kitchens, others to Ukrainian restaurants in Kyiv. Regardless of exact origin, the dish carries a name that reflects its Eastern European heritage, even as the recipe evolved significantly from any original preparation.

The Braemoor product sold at Lidl — Ham & Cheese Chicken Kievs — represents a modern commercial variation: a stuffed chicken dish with added protein (ham) and dairy (cheese), manufactured in Ireland by Glenhaven Foods. The product name preserves the Kyiv reference in a frozen convenience format designed for home preparation rather than restaurant service.

Is Chicken Kiev healthy?

Chicken Kiev — in any format — occupies an interesting nutritional position. On one hand, the base ingredient is chicken breast, a lean source of protein. On the other hand, the traditional preparation involves significant fat content from the butter filling and the breadcrumb coating, plus the frying process adds additional oil.

Nutrition overview

A typical frozen Chicken Kiev product, such as the Braemoor variety affected by this recall, provides substantial protein but also delivers notable calories and saturated fat from the cheese and ham components. The product is processed — meaning it has been altered from its original form through manufacturing — which also affects its nutritional profile relative to a home-prepared chicken breast.

Risks like salmonella

Beyond nutritional considerations, the primary risk from Chicken Kiev products is bacterial contamination. Raw poultry regularly carries Salmonella and Campylobacter, which is why thorough cooking is essential. The FSAI’s current recall supersedes any nutritional discussion — the immediate hazard from batch 25190B outweighs any considerations about the product’s place in a balanced diet (Food Safety Authority of Ireland).

For consumers who have returned or disposed of the recalled product and wish to prepare Chicken Kiev in the future, the safest approach involves purchasing from reputable suppliers, cooking to an internal temperature of at least 75°C, and maintaining proper refrigeration before preparation.

What are foods that help with diarrhea?

If you’ve consumed the recalled Chicken Kiev and are now dealing with Salmonella symptoms, your recovery depends partly on what you eat during the illness. The right foods can reduce digestive strain and help your body heal, while the wrong ones can worsen symptoms and prolong discomfort.

Recommended foods post-salmonella exposure

The BRAT diet — Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast — remains a widely recommended approach for managing acute diarrhoea, though it’s not the only option. These foods are bland, low in fibre, and unlikely to irritate the intestinal lining further. Bananas are particularly valuable because they replenish potassium lost through diarrhoea, while rice provides easily digestible carbohydrates that don’t stimulate bowel movements.

• Bananas — restore potassium and provide gentle calories
• White rice — easily digestible, low residue
• Applesauce (unsweetened) — provides pectin that may firm stools
• Plain toast — simple carbohydrate, low irritant
• Boiled potatoes — bland, potassium-rich
• Plain pasta — low fibre, gentle on digestion
• Broth-based soups — maintain hydration while providing electrolytes
• Cooked carrots — gentle on the gut, provides nutrients

Hydration is critically important during Salmonella infection. Diarrhoea causes rapid fluid loss, and fever increases water requirements. Water remains essential, but oral rehydration solutions (available from pharmacies) or diluted sports drinks can help replace sodium and potassium alongside fluid intake (Food Safety Authority of Ireland).

Foods to avoid

During recovery, certain foods can worsen symptoms or delay healing. These include high-fiber items that stimulate bowel movements, dairy products (which can be difficult to digest during illness), fatty or fried foods, caffeine, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners that can trigger additional digestive responses.

Most healthy adults recover from Salmonella infection within 4 to 7 days with appropriate rest, hydration, and dietary management. However, medical attention should be sought if symptoms are severe, persist beyond a week, or if the affected person falls into a high-risk category (Food Safety Authority of Ireland).

Recall timeline

Three dates define the path of this recall from detection to public notice:

The pattern reflects standard food safety protocol: regulatory detection and alert, followed by retailer response and public communication. Lidl’s recall notice confirmed customers could return the product for a full refund with or without receipt (Lidl Ireland Recall Notice), removing any barrier to compliance for consumers who may have discarded their purchase receipt.

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

The recall rests on confirmed facts: batch 25190B was contaminated with Salmonella, it was sold in 500g packs at Lidl, the FSAI issued a Category 1 alert, and the product is now subject to a formal recall. These points are documented across multiple tier 1 and tier 2 sources with high confidence.

• Salmonella presence confirmed in batch 25190B
• Product sold exclusively at Lidl Ireland stores
• Pack size confirmed as 500g
• Best before date: October 2026
• Category 1 recall classification by FSAI
• Consumers advised not to eat the product
• Full refund available without receipt

However, several questions remain unanswered in the publicly available information:

• Total number of units distributed across Lidl stores
• Whether confirmed illnesses have been linked to this batch
• Root cause of Salmonella contamination in the manufacturing process
• Whether other batches from Glenhaven Foods were affected or tested
• Corrective actions implemented by the manufacturer
• Whether other retailers received supply from the same batch

The FSAI’s alert notification 2025.44 did not disclose the quantity of product involved or whether the contamination was detected through routine sampling or in response to illness reports (Food Safety Authority of Ireland). This information gap is typical in early-stage recalls, where notification focuses on hazard identification and consumer action rather than epidemiological investigation.

What experts say

Glenhaven Foods is recalling the above batch of Braemoor Red Hen Ham & Cheese Chicken Kievs due to the presence of Salmonella.

— Food Safety Authority of Ireland (Irish food safety regulator, Alert Notification 2025.44)

People infected with Salmonella typically develop symptoms between 12 and 36 hours after infection, but this can range between 6 and 72 hours. The most common symptom is diarrhoea, which can sometimes be bloody.

— Food Safety Authority of Ireland (Irish food safety regulator, Alert Notification 2025.44)

Retailers were requested to remove the implicated batch from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale. Wholesalers and distributors were requested to contact affected customers and recall the implicated batch.

— Irish Examiner (Irish national newspaper, reporting on FSAI alert)

The recall was classified as Category 1: For Action — indicating the highest priority for public health response and immediate consumer protection measures.

— Echo Live (Irish news outlet, reporting on FSAI alert)

The guidance from the FSAI reflects standard food safety protocol for bacterial contamination incidents. Their public communication emphasizes that consumers should not eat the implicated product under any circumstances, even if it has been cooked — because cooking does not eliminate Salmonella that was present before preparation.

The Lidl recall underscores the importance of checking batch codes on frozen products and acting promptly when food safety alerts are issued. For Irish consumers who have batch 25190B in their freezers, the choice is straightforward: return it for a refund, and if any symptoms develop over the coming days, contact a medical professional immediately.

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