Pecorino romano cheese products sold in 20 states — including Pennsylvania — have been recalled from stores nationwide due to the risk of serious illness or even death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated the status of the recall on Jan. 6 to Class I, meaning there is a “reasonable probability” that the use of or exposure to the products could cause “serious adverse health consequences or death,” USA Today reported.

The initial recall, which was issued by the Ambriola Company because of listeria health risks, came out in November. Routine testing had uncovered contamination at Ambriola’s processing plant in West Caldwell, N.J.

Thousands of containers of cheese that were sold to distributors and retail locations, including Sam’s Club, are affected by the recall.

Cheese brand names affected include: Ambriola, Locatelli, Member’s Mark, Pinna and Boar’s Head that were sold between Nov. 3 and Nov. 20, 2025, according to the recall — with expiration dates through May 2026.

Specific products that have the Class I designation, according to the FDA, include:

  • 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
  • Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano, 5 and 10-pound plastic bags (units); Lot numbers: 1000570725 1000572476 1000570724 1000572475 1000570726 1000570727 1000572477
  • Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano 48/8oz Shipper, Plastic Cup & Lid, 48 units per case; Lot numbers: 1000570750 1000572499 1000572514
  • Pinna Grated Pecorino Romano 2/10, 10-pound plastic bags (units); Lot number: 1000572486
  • Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano, 6 oz Plastic Cup & Lid, 12 units per case; Lot number: 1000572486
  • Boar’s Head Pecorino Romano Grated, 5-pound plastic bag (unit); 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 (units); Lot numbers: 1000572981 1000570737 1000570092 1000572487

Anyone who has the products should not eat them and either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. People should contact their doctor if they believe they have gotten sick after eating the cheese.

Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems, the FDA said. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.