Boar’s Head Products Recalled Over Listeria Concerns
More products from Boar’s Head are now under recall due to potential listeria contamination. This follows an outbreak last year that resulted in the deaths of 10 people and affected many others.
On Monday, Ambriola announced it is recalling certain Pecorino Romano cheese products supplied to Boar’s Head. The items involved include both Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese and FS Grated Romano Cheese, which have sell-by dates ranging from November 21 to March 12, 2026.
These recalled products were distributed to Kroger locations in Kentucky and Indiana. Additionally, they were utilized in to-go containers for the brand’s Chicken Caesar Salad and Chicken Caesar Wrap.
Boar’s Head has opted to recall all products sourced from Ambriola out of “an abundance of caution,” even though its pre-cut Pecorino Romano cheese did not test positive for listeria.
In July 2024, the company faced a listeria outbreak that led to a recall of over 7 million pounds of meat, starting at its Virginia facility. This unfortunate incident resulted in 10 fatalities and numerous hospitalizations.
Reports in September indicated that Boar’s Head made considerable hush money payments to families of victims linked to the outbreak, including a $4 million settlement to a widow whose husband succumbed to illness after consuming their product.
Earlier this year, government inspections uncovered severe unsanitary conditions at the Virginia plant and two others, citing issues like meat residue, condensation dripping on food, and even insect presence.
In August, plans were announced to reopen the Virginia plant. The FDA classified Monday’s recall as Class I, the highest severity level, indicating that exposure could lead to serious health repercussions or even death.
Consuming contaminated food can lead to listeriosis—a potentially serious, and sometimes fatal, infection—especially among vulnerable populations like the elderly, pregnant women, and newborns.
Symptoms of listeriosis often include fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiff neck, convulsions, and diarrhea. In pregnant women, it can even cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth.
So far, the FDA has not reported any illnesses or complaints related to this recall.
Food safety officials are advising consumers to discard any impacted products. They stress, “If there is any doubt about a product, please throw it away without consuming it.”
As of now, Boar’s Head and Ambriola have not yet provided responses to requests for comment.
