Cheese Recalled Across U.S. After Warning Announced

Cheese is usually a delicious treat, but on Jan. 6, thousands of packages of cheese were recalled from stores nationwide due to the risk of possible death.

The cheese includes pecorino romano cheese products, which were sold in 20 states to distributors and retail locations. The cheese, according to a release, may be contaminated with listeria.

"Listeria infection is an illness caused by bacteria that can spread through many foods," the Mayo Clinic notes. "Another name for the illness is listeriosis. It can be very serious for pregnant women, people older than 65 and people with weakened immune systems."

Recall Issued and a Warning From the FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's regular testing revealed contamination at Ambriola's processing plant in West Caldwell, New Jersey, ahead of the first recall on Nov. 25.

The impacted cheese items were sold between Nov. 3, 2025, and Nov. 20, 2025, and have expiration dates through May of 2026

Now, as of Jan. 6, the FDA has updated the status of the recall and categorized it as Class I, which means there's a "reasonable probability" that the use of, or exposure to, the product could result in "serious adverse health consequences or death."

"We take food safety very seriously and immediately alerted stores and distributors to remove the affected products from shelves," Ambriola Company chief executive officer Phil Marfuggi said in a statement. "We are working closely with the FDA and continuing to test our products and facilities to fully understand the situation.

What to Do If You Have These Items

So, what do you do if you have one of these cheese items at home? Obviously, throw them out and don't eat them. You're also able to return them to where you purchased them and get a full refund. Anyone with questions can call Ambriola at 1-800-962-8224, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.

If you've eaten any of these items, contact your doctor.

Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, states the CDC. According to CDC research, the organization "estimates that each year in the United States, 1,250 people are infected with Listeria, and 172 people die from the infection."

"People who eat those foods can get infected with the bacteria," the CDC adds. "Listeria infection is rare, but serious."