A Class I recall—the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s highest warning level—has been issued for about 1,513 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The product, a dry-cured pork jowl commonly used in Italian cooking, was produced in Italy and distributed across eight states.
Prime Line Distributors and Ferrarini USA are recalling the items, identified by LOT number 263311US and a best-by date of May 16, 2027. The pork was manufactured on May 21 and imported into the United States in July. Routine import reinspection testing detected the potential contamination.
The recalled products reached food service, retail, and distributor locations in California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the products so far.
Consumers are advised not to eat the guanciale and to either discard it or return it to the place of purchase. Food service operators and retailers have been instructed not to sell or serve any of the affected items.
Listeria can cause serious illness, particularly in older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, headache, and stiff neck, and the infection can lead to severe complications or pregnancy-related risks.
The recall occurs amid a broader rise in foodborne illness reports this year, including large Cyclospora outbreaks and multiple other product recalls involving Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. Federal officials are conducting effectiveness checks to confirm the products are removed from commerce.