Widespread recall of grated Pecorino Romano affects major retailers

Ambriola Company updated a Class I recall in early January after routine testing detected Listeria monocytogenes in certain lots of grated Pecorino Romano. The update expanded the list of affected brands, packaging formats, and even products repackaged into deli containers at stores, putting a common pasta topping into the spotlight for food safety.

Affected labels include Boar’s Head, Locatelli, Member’s Mark, Pinna, and Ambriola-branded grated Pecorino Romano. The recall notice named specific container sizes and use-by or expiration dates, for example Boar’s Head grated Pecorino Romano 6-ounce cups with expiration dates 03/04/26 and 03/12/26, several Locatelli UPCs with listed expiration dates, and Member’s Mark 1.5-pound bags with specified expirations. Retail distribution reached major chains and wholesalers such as Walmart, Sam’s Club, Wegmans, Tops Markets, and Big Y, and stretched across about 20 states.

This matters to home cooks who rely on grated Pecorino Romano to finish pasta, dress salads, or season sauces. Check your pantry and refrigerator: any grated Pecorino Romano matching the brand, container size, UPC, or expiration dates in the recall should not be eaten. Dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Ambriola provided a customer phone contact for questions and further information.

The health risk is why this is a Class I recall, the most serious category for food products. Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion, or loss of balance. Those most vulnerable are older adults, pregnant people, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems. If you ate an affected product and develop symptoms, contact a healthcare provider promptly.

For pasta cooks and kitchen managers, the practical steps are straightforward: identify any grated Pecorino Romano in your stock, check labels and dates carefully, and remove suspect packages immediately. If you regularly buy cheese repackaged at deli counters, check with the store about whether that repackaging used the affected lots.

The recall underscores an ongoing reality in pantry management: pre-grated cheeses can be convenient but carry different handling and contamination risks than fresh blocks. Our two cents? If you can, buy a whole wedge and grate it at home for now, it’s fresher, gives better flavor and texture, and reduces one more variable in your kitchen.