A quiet pre-holiday grocery run just turned into a major safety alert for cheese buyers across the country. The Ambriola Company, a major importer and processor of Italian cheeses, recently issued a sweeping recall covering multiple popular brands after routine testing detected Listeria monocytogenes in select products.
The recall spans everything from Boar’s Head grated Pecorino to Locatelli cups and Member’s Mark bulk bags, affecting shipments sent out nationwide between November 3 and November 20. No illnesses have been reported, but the company and the FDA aren’t taking any chances.
The recalled products were sold at major retailers nationwide, including Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across 31 states and Washington, D.C. (with Member’s Mark items primarily at Sam’s Club), plus Kroger stores in Kentucky and Indiana. Target, Wegmans, Big Y, and Sprouts also carried affected products.
What triggered the recall
Ambriola announced the recall on November 25 after routine testing at its West Caldwell, New Jersey, facility detected Listeria monocytogenes in several production batches.
The company warned that while healthy people may only experience short-term symptoms like fever, severe headache, nausea, or diarrhea, the bacteria can cause “serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.” Pregnant women also face risks of miscarriage or stillbirth.
As a precaution, Ambriola expanded the recall to include additional products processed at the same facility — even if they had not tested positive.
Brands and products included in the recall
The affected list is long and cuts across several well-known names:
Retail Cups and Bags
Locatelli Pecorino Romano Grated 4 oz cup
Exp: 05/03/26, 05/10/26, 05/17/26
Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano 8 oz cup
Exp: multiple dates from 04/06/26 through 05/17/26
Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano 6 oz cup
Exp: 03/04/26, 03/12/26
Member’s Mark Pecorino Romano 1.5 lb bag
Exp: 03/25/26, 03/30/26, 04/05/26
Grated Cheese Sold by the Pound
Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano
Exp: 03/04/26, 03/06/26, 03/11/26, 03/13/26
Ambriola Grated Pecorino Romano
Exp: 02/28/26, 03/04/26, 03/11/26
Pinna Grated Pecorino Romano
Exp: 03/11/26
Boar’s Head Pecorino Romano Grated bag
Exp: 03/03/26, 03/12/26
The company stressed that no other Ambriola, Locatelli, Member’s Mark, Pinna, or Boar’s Head products are impacted.
What consumers should do
The cheese importer’s advice is simple:
Do not eat any of the recalled cheese.
Throw it away or return it to the store for a full refund.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of listeria infection should contact their healthcare provider.
Consumers with questions can reach Ambriola directly at 1-800-962-8224, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
How Ambriola is responding
Phil Marfuggi, the company’s CEO, said Ambriola “immediately alerted stores and distributors to remove the affected products from shelves” and is “working closely with the FDA and continuing to test our products and facilities to fully understand the situation.”
The company has temporarily suspended the production and distribution of impacted items while it reviews all sanitation and food safety procedures.
Why Listeria recalls matter
Unlike many foodborne bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes can grow even in refrigerated environments and is particularly dangerous for young children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with compromised immune systems. In the U.S., listeria infections cause an estimated 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths each year, according to federal health authorities.
Grated cheeses, especially those packed in bulk or processed in large facilities, can pose unique risks when cross-contamination occurs, which is why quick recalls like this one are essential.
The bottom line
A routine quality check caught a potential problem before any illnesses were reported, but the recall is large enough that shoppers across the country should double-check their fridges and freezers — especially if they bought grated Pecorino Romano from major brands in early November.
Source: FDA
Dining and Cooking