What is listeria? Here’s what you need to know
Learn about Listeria, its symptoms and essential preventive measures to safeguard against the food borne illness.
Thousands of containers of cheese have been recalled from stores nationwide due to the risk of serious illness or even death.
The pecorino romano cheese products were sold in 20 states to distributors and retail locations, including Sam’s Club. The cheese, produced by the Ambriola Company, could be contaminated with listeria, a bacterium that can cause serious illness in some people, said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration report. Routine testing uncovered contamination at Ambriola’s processing plant in West Caldwell, New Jersey, before the initial recall on Nov. 25.
The FDA updated the status of the recall on Jan. 6, categorizing it as Class I, meaning there is a “reasonable probability” that the use of, or exposure to, the product could cause “serious adverse health consequences or death.”
“We take food safety very seriously and immediately alerted stores and distributors to remove the affected products from shelves,” Ambriola Company chief executive officer Phil Marfuggi said in a statement shared in an FDA notice. “We are working closely with the FDA and continuing to test our products and facilities to fully understand the situation.”
Here’s what to know about the recall.
Which cheese products are recalled?
The affected cheese products were sold between Nov. 3, 2025, and Nov. 20, 2025, and have expiration dates through May 2026.
- Locatelli – Grated Pecorino Romano 4 oz and 8 oz plastic cups; lot numbers 1000572472, 100057073,4 1000570735, 1000570736, 1000572482, 1000572483 and 1000572485.
- Grated Pecorino Romano, 5 and 10-pound plastic bags; lot numbers 1000570725, 1000572476, 1000570724, 1000572475, 1000570726, 1000570727 and 1000572477.
- Grated Pecorino Romano 48/8oz Shipper, packaged in plastic cups; lot numbers 1000570750, 1000572499 and 1000572514.
- Pinna – Grated Pecorino Romano 2/10, 10-pound plastic bags; lot number 1000572486.
- Boar’s Head – Grated Pecorino Romano, 6 oz plastic cups; lot number 1000572486.
- Pecorino Romano Grated, 5-pound plastic bag; lot numbers 1000570093 and 1000570738.
- Sam’s – Pecorino Romano grated, 1.5-pound Plastic Bags; lot numbers 1000570107,1000570766 and 1000572513.
- Ambriola – Piccante grated Pecorino Romano, 5 and 10-pound plastic bags; lot numbers 1000572981, 1000570737, 1000570092 and 1000572487.
- Member’s Mark (Sam’s Club brand) – Pecorino Romano 1.5-pound Bag; expiration dates 03/25/26, 03/30/26 and 04/05/26.
No other Ambriola, Locatelli, Member’s Mark, Pinna or Boar’s Head products are included in the recall.
Where were the recalled cheeses sold? See map
According to the FDA, the cheese was distributed in the following U.S. states:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
What to do with recalled cheeses?
If you have affected cheese products at home, do not eat them. Throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions can call Ambriola at 1-800-962-8224, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.
If you believe you may have gotten sick after eating affected cheese, contact your doctor.
What are the symptoms of listeria poisoning?
Listeria poisoning is a foodborne bacterial infection most commonly caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is considered a serious condition and can be dangerous or life-threatening, especially to older adults, people with weak immune systems and pregnant women.
Per the CDC, symptoms include:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
- Diarrhea
- Other gastrointestinal symptoms
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and/or life-threatening infection of newborn infants
- Death
People in higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months of consuming contaminated food should seek medical attention, according to the CDC.
