WASHINGTON — A recall impacting various cheese products nationwide, initially announced last year, has been elevated to the Food and Drug Administration’s most critical risk category following verification of a potentially lethal bacterium’s presence.

In an updated enforcement report published on January 6, the FDA stated that the recall has now been classified as Class I, indicating the highest level of concern.

The agency defines a Class I recall as one where there is a “reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, [the] product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

This reclassification is linked to the discovery of Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium capable of causing serious illness, especially affecting vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, older adults, young children, and individuals with compromised immune systems. The illness caused by this bacterium is commonly known as listeria.

No illnesses linked to the recall have been confirmed. 

The original recall by The Ambriola Company came on Nov. 25, 2025 after routine testing found traces of the listeria bacteria in samples of cheese produced at the company’s New Jersey manufacturing facility. 

Healthy individuals may only experience short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

But the infection can cause serious health concerns among the elderly, young and pregnant, including the possibility of death and miscarriage. 

Four of the eight products were sold directly to consumers, while another four were sold by the pound for large-scale cooking. 

Recalled cheese products for consumer cooking:

• Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano, 4-ounce and 8-ounce plastic cups with lids (12 units per case).
  Recall No. H-0367-2026.
  Lot numbers: 1000572472, 1000570734, 1000570735, 1000570736, 1000572482, 1000572483, 1000572485.
  About 6,632 units recalled.

• Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano, 5- and 10-pound plastic bags.
  Recall No. H-0368-2026.
  Lot numbers: 1000570725, 1000572476, 1000570724, 1000572475, 1000570726, 1000570727, 1000572477.
  About 964 bags recalled.

• Pinna Grated Pecorino Romano, 10-pound plastic bags (two per case).
  Recall No. H-0369-2026.
  Lot number: 1000572486.
  About 45 bags recalled.

• Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano, 6-ounce plastic cups with lids (12 units per case).
  Recall No. H-0370-2026.
  Lot number: 1000572486.
  About 2,106 units recalled.

Recalled cheese products sold by the pound:

• Member’s Mark (Sam’s Club) Pecorino Romano Grated, 1.5-pound plastic bags (12 units per case).
  Recall No. H-0371-2026.
  Lot numbers: 1000570107, 1000570766, 1000572513.
  About 1,015 bags recalled.

• Boar’s Head Pecorino Romano Grated, 5-pound plastic bags.
  Recall No. H-0372-2026.
  Lot numbers: 1000570093, 1000570738.
  About 405 bags recalled.

• Ambriola Piccante Grated Pecorino Romano, 5- and 10-pound plastic bags.
  Recall No. H-0373-2026.
  Lot numbers: 1000572981, 1000570737, 1000570092, 1000572487.
  About 179 bags recalled.

• Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano, 8-ounce plastic cups with lids (48 units per case).
  Recall No. H-0374-2026.
  Lot numbers: 1000570750, 1000572499, 1000572514.
  About 184 units recalled.