A cheese recall in 20 states has been upgraded to the FDA’s most serious risk category for Listeria.

The Italian cheese importer Ambriola Company located in West Caldwell, New Jersey initially issued a voluntarily product recall last November for Listeria monocytogenes. The FDA upgraded the risk on Jan. 6.

The recalled cheese was 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.

The company says the presence of Listeria monocytogenes “can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.”

The company says the affected products were distributed to retail stores and distributors nationwide between Nov. 3 and Nov. 20. But many of the products have expiration dates into 2026.

Customers who purchased the affected product are being advised not to consume them and to either dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

The recalled cheese products are: