• Posted January 13, 2026

FDA Raises Cheese Recall To Highest Risk After Listeria Found

Federal regulators have escalated a nationwide cheese recall to their most serious warning level after lab tests confirmed the presence of Listeria, a potentially deadly bacteria.

The action was announced in a Jan. 6 enforcement report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA upgraded the recall to Class I, its highest risk category. That designation means there is a “reasonable probability” that using or eating the product could cause serious illness or death.

The decision follows confirmation that listeria monocytogenes was found in cheese made at a New Jersey facility operated by The Ambriola Company.

The company first recalled the products Nov. 25, 2025, after routine testing detected the bacteria.

So far, no illnesses have been reported, according to the FDA.

The recall affects both consumer-sized packages and large bags sold for food service.

Four products were sold directly to consumers, while others were sold by the pound for large-scale cooking.

Consumer packages recalled include:

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

Products sold by the pound include:

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

Listeria can cause severe illness, especially in pregnant women, newborns, older adults and those with weakened immune systems. Common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and seizures.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on Listeria.

SOURCE: KARE 11, Jan. 11, 2026