High-Risk Italian Pork Recall Hits Restaurant Supply Chains Across 8 States

Commercial kitchens across eight states may still have imported dry-cured guanciale in walk-in refrigerators and freezers after a recall tied to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The affected specialty pork moved through restaurant and food-service networks in California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas.

From California to New York, Texas and Florida, Ferrarini USA products went to distributors and food-service locations, while Prime Line Distributors sent its recalled cases to food-service and retail companies in Florida. The products carry lot number 263311US and establishment number IT 1937 L CE, printed inside the Italian mark of inspection or on the case label. Receiving managers checking walk-ins for the Ferrarini USA guanciale recall lot 263311US should compare those markings before serving or selling the meat. None are reported.

Guanciale is a high-value Italian dining staple used in traditional dishes including Carbonara and Amatriciana. That helps explain why the shipments were routed into commercial kitchen supply chains and specialty food operations rather than only standard supermarket shelves. The Prime Line Distributors pork jowl recall covers various-weight cardboard cases of two individually vacuum-packed “Prime Line Distributors, Inc. Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” items, along with various-weight individually vacuum-packed “Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” products.

Ferrarini USA’s recalled inventory included various-weight cardboard cases containing two individually vacuum-packed pieces of “Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” and various-weight individually vacuum-packed “Ferrarini Guanciale Dry-Cured Pork Jowl” products.

Produced at Est. 1937L Bome SRL in Italy on May 21, the products entered the United States in July. Each affected item has a best-if-used-by date of May 16, 2027, along with lot number 263311US and establishment number IT 1937 L CE. An Est 1937L Bome SRL Listeria alert followed even though the pork was dry-cured.

Listeria monocytogenes can survive and even proliferate in cured-meat environments, including products that are salt-cured, low-moisture and refrigerated. Dry-curing does not eliminate the pathogen’s ability to persist.

Imported meat is subject to USDA-FSIS reinspection protocols that rely on statistical sampling at port entry points. Shipments can move to commercial holding facilities or distribution hubs while laboratory culture results are pending. In this case, pork produced in May was imported in July and moved through distribution networks before routine reinspection testing confirmed a positive sample and the September recall action stopped further use.

The finding involved a sample confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The USDA classified the action as a Class I recall. The incident is also being tracked as a Guanciale Listeria contamination case involving imported Italian pork.

Within two months of eating contaminated food, people in higher-risk groups who develop flu-like symptoms should seek medical attention. Older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns face the greatest danger; symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, gastrointestinal problems, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.

Pregnant women can experience miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection in a newborn. Serious and sometimes fatal infections can also occur in older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Restaurant operators and food-service buyers should inspect refrigerators, freezers and receiving areas for cases bearing the affected product names, May 16, 2027 date, lot number 263311US or establishment number IT 1937 L CE. FSIS said some products may still be in food-service and retail refrigerators and freezers, and locations should not serve or sell them.

Prime Line’s Florida distribution leaves affected cases in both food-service and retail channels. Food items covered by the recall should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase. The Class I USDA meat recall restaurants are being urged to address applies to about 1,513 pounds of dry-cured pork jowl products recalled by Prime Line Distributors, Inc. and Ferrarini USA, Inc.