Two U.S.-based distributors recalled 1,513 pounds of imported Italian ready-to-eat guanciale pork jowl products after routine import testing confirmed Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The USDA classified the September 2026 action as a Class I recall, urging food service and retail locations across eight states to discard or return the affected meat.
Federal Class I Recall Targets Imported Italian Guanciale
Federal food safety regulators issued their most serious warning level for more than 1,500 pounds of dry-cured pork jowl products imported from Italy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service classified the action as a Class I recall, indicating a reasonable probability that consuming the items could cause serious adverse health consequences or death. The affected ready-to-eat meat, commonly known as guanciale, was produced at Est. 1937L Bome SRL in Italy on May 21, 2026, and brought into the United States during July 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The contamination came to light during routine import reinspection testing. A product sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, prompting two domestic companies to pull their inventory from the supply chain, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.
While federal authorities confirmed that no illnesses had been reported in connection with the recalled pork products, health officials stressed the potential danger of the bacteria. Listeriosis primarily threatens older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. The infection can trigger severe symptoms ranging from persistent fever and muscle aches to headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. In pregnant women, listeriosis can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infections in newborns, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Affected Products, Lot Numbers, and Distribution States
Two companies managed the importation and distribution of the tainted pork jowl: Florida-based Prime Line Distributors, Inc. and New Jersey-based Ferrarini USA, Inc. The recalled items carry establishment number IT 1937 L CE either inside the Italian mark of inspection or printed on the case label. Every recalled package shares a single lot number and shelf-life target, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.
- Lot Number: 263311US
- Best If Used By Date: 05.16.27
- Establishment Number: IT 1937 L CE
Distribution reached eight states through food service operations, distributors, and retail locations. Prime Line Distributors shipped its products to destinations within Florida. Ferrarini USA disseminated its inventory across California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Texas, according to the USDA.
Regulatory Warnings and Guidance for Retailers and Consumers
Regulators voiced concern that inventory might still be sitting on shelves or in private freezers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
“FSIS is concerned that some products may be in food service and retail refrigerators and freezers. Food service and retail locations are urged not to serve or sell these products.”
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
Because symptoms of listeriosis can take up to seventy days to manifest after exposure, health agencies advised anyone who consumed the guanciale to monitor their health closely. Consumers experiencing flu-like symptoms within two months of eating the food items should contact a healthcare provider immediately, the agency advised.
