FDA Expands Cheese Recall Affecting 20 States, Warns of Death Risk

More Pecorino Romano cheese products are being recalled due to possible listeria contamination.

Ambriola Company, a supplier to popular brands like Boar's Head and Locatelli, issued a recall of select Pecorino Romano cheese products back on November 24. The Food and Drug Administration reclassified the recall as Class I on Tuesday, January 6.

The FDA uses classifications to indicate the "degree of health hazard" of recalled products. Class I is defined as "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

Since the November 2025 recall announcement, more products and states have been linked to the potential presence of listeria.

Which Products Are Affected

The affected products come from five brands—Locatelli, Pinna, Boar's Head, Sam's Club's Member's Mark and Ambriola. They were sold directly to consumers and in large-scale sizes for restaurants.

Several Locatelli-branded products are included. 4-oz. and 8-oz. cups of Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano with lot numbers: 1000572472, 1000570734, 1000570735, 1000570736, 1000572482, 1000572483, 1000572485, 1000570750, 1000572499 and 1000572514. The 5 and 10-lb. bags with lot numbers 1000570725, 1000572476, 1000570724, 1000572475, 1000570726, 1000570727 and 1000572477 are also affected.

10-lb. bags of Pinna Grated Pecorino Romano with lot number 1000572486 are included along with 1.5-lb. bags of Member's Mark Pecorino Romano with lot numbers: 1000570107, 1000570766 and 1000572513.

6-oz. cups of Boar's Head Grated Pecorino Romano with lot number 1000572486 and 5-lb. bags with lot numbers 1000570093 and 1000570738.

5 and 10-lb. bags of Ambriola Piccante grated Pecorino Romano with four lot numbers: 1000572981, 1000570737, 1000570092 and 1000572487.

Where They Were Sold

The affected products were distributed in these states:

• Arizona

• California

• Colorado

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Florida

• Georgia

• Illinois

• Indiana

• Massachusetts

• Maine

• New Jersey

• New York

• Ohio

• Oregon

• Pennsylvania

• Texas

• Virginia

• Washington

• Wisconsin

Twenty states total. If you bought Pecorino Romano cheese from any of these brands in any of these states, check the lot numbers.

What Listeria Does

Listeriosis, the condition caused by listeria infection, causes headaches, fever, muscle aches, confusion and diarrhea among other symptoms, according to the USDA.

The agency highlighted that people over 65, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people are especially at risk. Listeriosis can result in a fatal infection for these groups.

What It Comes Down To

The FDA started this recall in November but just reclassified it as Class I in January. Class I is the most serious classification, meaning there's reasonable probability the product could cause serious health consequences or death.

Nearly two months passed between the initial recall and the reclassification. During that time more products and states got added to the list of potentially contaminated cheese.

Five major brands are affected. Locatelli, Pinna, Boar's Head, Member's Mark, Ambriola all sold Pecorino Romano cheese that might contain listeria. Products were sold in both consumer sizes and bulk restaurant sizes, so this recall hits both home kitchens and commercial operations.

Twenty states got shipments of potentially contaminated cheese. Check your fridge if you bought any Pecorino Romano from these brands recently. The lot numbers are listed above.

Listeria is serious. Not just food poisoning that makes you feel terrible for a few days. Can actually kill people, especially those over 65, pregnant women, anyone with a compromised immune system.

If you've got any of these products, don't eat them. Don't take the risk. Throw them out or return them for a refund.

The fact that it took nearly two months to upgrade this to Class I raises questions about the recall process timeline. When there's potential for serious health consequences or death, seems like that classification should happen faster.

Check the lot numbers carefully. The recall includes specific lot numbers, not all products from these brands. But with so many lot numbers listed across multiple package sizes and brands, it is easier to just avoid all Pecorino Romano from these five brands until the situation gets resolved.

Did you find this information useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline to share with your friends.