The Ambriola Company issued a voluntary recall of grated Pecorino Romano cheese sold under four brand names after routine testing detected listeria contamination at its West Caldwell, New Jersey, manufacturing facility. The recall affects products distributed through major national retailer,s including Walmart, Target, and specialty grocery chains across multiple states, with expiration dates ranging from February through May 2026.

According to the FDA's recall notice, the contamination impacts Locatelli brand products in 4-ounce and 8-ounce cups, Boar's Head brand in 6-ounce cups, Member's Mark brand in 1.5-pound bags, and bulk cheese sold by the pound under Pinna, Locatelli, Ambriola, and Boar's Head labels. Wegmans stores across North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., sold affected Locatelli products between November 14 and November 25, 2025.

The recall demonstrates how contamination at a single production facility can proliferate across multiple brand labels and distribution channels, reaching consumers in dozens of states before detection. Retailers selling Member's Mark products distributed the contaminated cheese to locations in 27 states, including Florida, California, Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and numerous others across the Northeast, Midwest, and West.

Understanding Listeria's Public Health Risk

Listeria monocytogenes poses serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that listeria infections affect approximately 1,250 people annually in the United States, resulting in 172 deaths. Senior citizens and individuals with compromised immune systems face the greatest danger from listeria's severe effects, while pregnant women can experience stillbirths and miscarriages triggered by the high fevers characteristic of listeria infection.

Most people infected with Listeria experience high fevers, headaches, muscle aches, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal distress. The detection of contamination through routine testing highlights the critical importance of continuous quality monitoring throughout food production and distribution systems. Customers who purchased affected products should not consume them and either dispose of the cheese or return it to purchase locations for a full refund. The Ambriola Company provides additional information through its customer service line at 1-800-962-8224, available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time.

Prevention Through Comprehensive Quality Management

This recall underscores the need for robust quality management systems that monitor contamination risks across production, packaging, and distribution processes. Single-facility contamination events affecting multiple brands reveal supply chain vulnerabilities that can only be addressed through comprehensive testing protocols, real-time monitoring, and automated alert systems that identify potential hazards before products reach consumers.

Food manufacturers and distributors operating in highly regulated industries need integrated quality management platforms that track testing results, maintain detailed production records, and provide instant notifications when contamination is detected. Blockchain-secured documentation ensures the authenticity of testing certificates and prevents altered or fraudulent results from entering supply chains, while automated compliance monitoring enables businesses to respond rapidly when recalls are necessary.

Protect your food business with proactive quality management. Qredible's Q-Trust and Q-Monitor platforms provide continuous compliance monitoring, automated testing verification, and comprehensive supply chain tracking designed for highly regulated food and supplement industries. Contact our team today to learn how our solutions help prevent contamination incidents and build consumer trust through transparent, verified quality management systems.