At a Glance
- Class I recall hits Ambriola grated Pecorino Romano across 20 states
- Listeria contamination confirmed by routine testing
- Products sold under Locatelli, Boar’s Head, Pinna, Sam’s, Ambriola brands
- Why it matters: Infection can kill vulnerable groups and symptoms may not appear for months
A New Jersey cheese maker has pulled multiple grated Pecorino Romano products from shelves in at least 20 states after routine testing found Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause fatal infections in children, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
Recall Scope and Classification
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists the action as a Class I recall, the most serious level, indicating a “reasonable probability” that eating the cheese could lead to “serious adverse health consequences or death.”
The recall, first announced in late November, continues to expand. States now affected:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Affected Products and Lot Numbers
Locatelli
- Grated Pecorino Romano 4 oz and 8 oz plastic cup & lid, 12 units per case
Lot Numbers: 1000572472, 1000570734, 1000570735, 1000570736, 1000572482, 1000572483, 1000572485
- Grated Pecorino Romano, 5 and 10-pound plastic bags
Lot numbers: 1000570725, 1000572476, 1000570724, 1000572475, 1000570726, 1000570727, 1000572477
- Grated Pecorino Romano 48/8 oz Shipper, Plastic Cup & Lid, 48 units per case
Lot numbers: 1000570750, 1000572499, 1000572514
Pinna
- Grated Pecorino Romano 2/10, 10-pound plastic bags
Lot number: 1000572486
Boar’s Head
- Grated Pecorino Romano, 6 oz Plastic Cup & Lid, 12 units per case
Lot number: 1000572486
- Pecorino Romano Grated, 5-pound plastic bag
Lot numbers: 1000570093, 1000570738
Sam’s
- Pecorino Romano grated, 1.5 lb Plastic Bags, 12 units per case
Lot numbers: 1000570107, 1000570766, 1000572513
Ambriola
- Piccante grated Pecorino Romano, 5 and 10-pound plastic bags
Lot numbers: 1000572981, 1000570737, 1000570092, 1000572487
No additional Ambriola, Locatelli, Member’s Mark, Pinna, or Boar’s Head items are involved.
Company Response
Phil Marfuggi, chief executive officer of The Ambriola Company, based in West Caldwell, New Jersey, said the firm acted immediately after detecting the pathogen.
“We take food safety very seriously and alerted stores and distributors to remove the affected products from shelves,” Marfuggi stated. “We are working closely with the FDA and continuing to test our products and facilities to fully understand the situation.”
What Consumers Should Do
Customers who bought any of the listed cheeses should:
- Stop consuming the product
- Discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund
- Call Ambriola at 1-800-962-8224, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., for questions
Listeria Health Risks
Listeria infections occur after eating food tainted with the bacterium. Typical symptoms include:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Severe cases may progress to:
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
The infection poses the greatest danger to:
- Very young children
- Adults over 65
- People with weakened immune systems
- Pregnant women
Timing of Illness
Symptoms can surface quickly-within hours or days-or linger unnoticed for weeks or up to three months. Anyone who develops a fever along with other listeriosis symptoms after eating the recalled cheese should seek medical care and inform their doctor about the possible exposure.
Key Takeaways
- A Class I recall signals high health risk; do not eat the affected cheeses
- Check packages for both brand name and lot numbers before deciding to keep or toss
- Vulnerable groups should be especially vigilant about symptoms
- When in doubt, discard the product or return it for a refund
