FDA Expands Cheese Recall Affecting 20 States, FDA Warns Consumption Could Cause Death

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

Ambriola Company, a supplier to popular brands like Boar’s Head Brand and Locatelli, issued a recall of select pecorino Romano cheese products back on Nov. 24. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reclassified the recall as Class I on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

The FDA published the initial recall and Class I classification back in November. The FDA uses classifications — Class I, II or II — to indicate the “degree of health hazard” of the recalled product. 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,” per the organization. 

Since the November 2025 recall announcement, more products and states have been linked to the potential presence of listeria. The affected products come from five brands—Locatelli, Pinna, Boar’s Head, Sam’s Club’s brand Member’s Mark and Ambriola—and were sold directly to consumers and in large-scale sizes for restaurants.

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

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

6-oz. cups of Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano with the same lot number as the recalled Pinna product (1000572486) and the 5-lb. Bag of Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano with lot numbers 1000570093 and 1000570738.

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

The affected products were distributed to Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin. 

Listeriosis, the condition caused by listeria infection, causes headaches, fever, muscle aches, confusion and diarrhea among other symptoms, according to the USDA. The agency also highlighted that people over 65, those who are pregnant and immunocompromised people are especially at risk from listeriosis, which can result in a fatal infection.

The Ambriola Company did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request to comment.