Boar’s Head and Locatelli Pecorino Romano Cheese Recalled for Listeria Risk

A company that provides pecorino romano cheese for Boar’s Head and other brands has recalled several products nationwide because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to two announcements from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This bacteria can cause listeriosis, an infection that can be particularly serious in vulnerable groups, including the very young, very old, and people who are pregnant or immunocompromised.

The producer, Ambriola Company, has recalled the following items:

6 oz Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese (item code 858, case UPC: 042421-05858, and sell-by dates 11/21/25–3/12/26)
FS Grated Romano Cheese (item code: 15119, case UPC: 042421-15119, and sell-by dates: 11/21/25–3/12/26)
4 oz Locatelli Pecorino Romano Grated (expiration dates: 05/03/26, 05/10/26, 05/17/26)
8 oz Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano (expiration dates: 04/06/26–05/17/26)
1.5 lb Member’s Mark Pecorino Romano bag (expiration dates: 03/25/26, 03/30/26, 04/05/26)

Ambriola has also recalled the following cheeses that were sold by the pound:

Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano (expiration dates: 03/04/26, 03/06/26, 03/11/26, 03/13/26)
Ambriola Grated Pecorino Romano (expiration dates: 02/28/26, 03/04/26, 03/11/26)
Pinna Grated Pecorino Romano (expiration date: 03/11/26)
Boar’s Head Pecorino Romano Grated bag (expiration date: 03/03/26, 03/12/26)

These recalls also include two premade deli items:

Boar’s Head EverRoast Chicken Caesar Salad (barcode 850042244142, best by date 11/9/2025–11/22/2025)
Boar’s Head EverRoast Chicken Caesar Wrap (barcode 85004224455, best by date 11/9/2025–11/22/2025)

The deli items are now past their expiration date. If you still have them in your home, the FDA advises you not to eat them, and to throw them away.

Boar’s Head said that out of an abundance of caution, it was also withdrawing all other Ambriola products sold under its label, including the following item that wasn’t listed in the recall:

Pre-Cut Pecorino Romano (item code: 15160, case UPC: 042421-15160, and sell-by dates: 11/25/25–5/11/26)

According to a statement shared with USA Today, “Boar’s Head took immediate action to halt the purchase of these products from the Ambriola Company, notify retail partners, and ensure that the affected products are being removed from distribution nationally.”

No illnesses have been reported related to these recalls, the FDA announcements said.

Recalled or withdrawn cheese should be thrown away or returned to where you bought it for a refund. Any dishes or surfaces that came into contact with the recalled cheese should be washed thoroughly.

How Does Listeria Make You Sick?

Food contaminated with L. monocytogenes bacteria can lead to listeriosis. Healthy children and adults only rarely get sick with listeriosis, and even then the illness is usually mild. Typically these groups experience fever, diarrhea, or other stomach problems within 24 hours of eating contaminated food, and the infection gets better on its own.

Serious listeriosis almost exclusively affects adults over 60, people with compromised immune systems, and pregnant people.

Listeriosis is called invasive if it spreads beyond the digestive tract. During pregnancy, invasive listeriosis can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in the newborn.

In other high-risk groups, invasive listeriosis can cause serious illness or even death.

Invasive listeriosis can cause the following symptoms:

Fever
Muscle aches
Headache
Stiff neck
Confusion
Loss of balance
Seizures

Sometimes these symptoms occur after diarrhea or other gastrointestinal issues.

If you’re in a high risk group and you experience flu-like symptoms within two months of eating potentially contaminated food, you should get medical care and explain your potential exposure.