If you like shredded cheese, this warning could affect you. One of the largest importers and distributors of specialty cheese from Italy has issued recalls for seven different products that tested positive for listeria, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The recalls were initiated by The Ambriola Company’s headquarters in West Caldwell, New Jersey.
While the recalls were initiated at the end of November, the FDA assigned classifications for the contaminated products on Tuesday.
The FDA said in an updated enforcement report released Jan. 6 that the recall has been reclassified as Class I, its highest level of concern.
The reclassification is tied to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause severe illness, particularly among pregnant women, older adults, young children and people with weakened immune systems. The disease produced by the bacteria is commonly referred to as listeria.
No illnesses linked to the recall have been confirmed.
The original recall by The Ambriola Company came on Nov. 25, 2025 after routine testing found traces of the listeria bacteria in samples of cheese produced at the company’s New Jersey manufacturing facility.
Healthy individuals may only experience short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
But the infection can cause serious health concerns among the elderly, young and pregnant, including the possibility of death and miscarriage.
Four of the eight products were sold directly to consumers, while another four were sold by the pound for large-scale cooking.
The recalled products were distributed to Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
If you eat food that you suspect might be contaminated with listeria, here’s what usually happens — and what you should do.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium found in contaminated food like:
Unlike most bacteria, listeria grows in the refrigerator, which is why it’s so dangerous. If infection happens, symptoms usually appear 3–30 days later (sometimes up to 70 days).
It may seem like a severe stomach bug at first. This often resolves on its own in healthy adults.
Listeria can invade the bloodstream or brain, causing:
This form is called invasive listeriosis and it can be fatal if untreated.
These groups can get very sick from even a small exposure:
For pregnant women:
There’s no reason to get tested unless you have symptoms. Currently, there isn’t a test that can tell if listeria is in your body before symptoms start.
Call or go in immediately if:
Listeria is treated with antibiotics, but only if caught early.
If you just ate something suspicious:
Customers are instructed not to consume the affected products and to either dispose of them or return them for a refund.
Anyone who has symptoms of Listeria infection is urged to contact their healthcare provider.
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