A widespread cheese recall was first reported in November after stores including Walmart, Target, and Sam’s Club alerted their customers that certain grated Pecorino Romano cheese products had tested positive for bacterial contamination. Now, a January 6, 2026 update from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revealed the severity of the threat. The health authority has designated the action a Class I recall, its most serious category, meaning there is a reasonable probability that consuming the product could cause severe health consequences or death.

The recall, originally initiated on November 21, 2025, involves products distributed across 20 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The recalling firm, The Ambriola Company, Inc. of West Caldwell, New Jersey, issued the recall after routine testing detected Listeria monocytogenes in several lots of grated Pecorino Romano. Affected products include multiple package sizes and formats sold under well-known brand names such as Locatelli, Boar’s Head, Pinna, Sam’s, and Ambriola. 

In total, more than 11,000 units—including retail cups and large foodservice bags—are impacted. The items were sent to retail stores and distributors nationwide between November 3, 2025 and November 20, 2025, as noted in the original FDA press release. You can identify the affected products using their lot numbers: 

Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano

  • Retail cups (4 oz & 8 oz plastic cup and lid):
    • Lot numbers: 1000572472, 1000570734, 1000570735, 1000570736, 1000572482, 1000572483, 1000572485
  • Bulk bags (5 lb and 10 lb plastic bags):
    • Lot numbers: 1000570725, 1000572476, 1000570724, 1000572475, 1000570726, 1000570727, 1000572477
  • 48-count shipper (48/8 oz plastic cups):
    • Lot numbers: 1000570750, 1000572499, 1000572514

Boar’s Head Pecorino Romano

  • Retail cups (6 oz plastic cup and lid):
    • Lot number: 1000572486
  • Bulk bags (5 lb plastic bags):
    • Lot numbers: 1000570093, 1000570738

Pinna Grated Pecorino Romano

  • Bulk bags (10 lb plastic bags):
    • Lot number: 1000572486

Sam’s Pecorino Romano Grated

  • Bulk bags (1.5 lb plastic bags):
    • Lot numbers: 1000570107, 1000570766, 1000572513

Ambriola Piccante Grated Pecorino Romano

  • Bulk bags (5 lb and 10 lb plastic bags):
    • Lot numbers: 1000572981, 1000570737, 1000570092, 1000572487

Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an infection that may begin with flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. In pregnant people, it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or life-threatening infection in newborns. Older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of invasive illness, including bloodstream infections and meningitis.

“We take food safety very seriously and immediately alerted stores and distributors to remove the affected products from shelves,” said Phil Marfuggi, chief executive officer for The Ambriola Company, said via statement. “We are working closely with the FDA and continuing to test our products and facilities to fully understand the situation.”

Those who may have consumed the affected products should monitor for signs of Listeriosis. “Customers who have symptoms of listeria infection should contact their healthcare provider,” the FDA urges.

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Lauren Gray
Lauren has a decade of experience covering health and wellness for SELF Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Yahoo! News, MSN, Best Life, and more. For three years she led the writing center at Woodstock School, one of the oldest international boarding schools in India.  Lauren is a young adult breast cancer survivor who now centers her personal life aro...
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Lauren Gray