French supermarkets recall lardons over salt deficiency and bacterial risk

Three French retailers – Intermarché (brand Monique Ranou), Lidl (brand Saint‑Alby) and Auchan – have issued a nationwide recall of smoked and natural lardons. Tests identified insufficient salt levels during production, which can impair preservation and allow Salmonella and Listeria bacteria to proliferate.

Consumers are advised not to eat the affected products, to return them to the point of sale for a refund (by 12 June for Intermarché, 13 June for Lidl, and 21 June for Auchan), or to discard them. Anyone who has already consumed the lardons should monitor for fever, headaches, muscle aches, diarrhoea or vomiting and seek medical attention if symptoms appear. Cooking the lardons to an internal temperature above 65 °C can destroy the bacteria.

The recall lists specific lot numbers and best‑before dates for the affected batches. A similar recall of Herta lardons occurred in early May across France.