Over 1,500 Pounds of Imported Pork Recalled Due to Listeria Concerns

More than 1,500 pounds of ready-to-eat pork shipped to New York, New Jersey, and six other states have been recalled at the US Department of Agriculture’s highest warning level due to Listeria concerns. Two US-based companies — Prime Line Distributors, Inc. based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Ferrarini USA, Inc. based in Hoboken — have recalled 1,513 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Sunday. The recall is classified as a Class I recall, which is the USDA’s highest warning level involving high or medium risk. The issue was identified during a routine import reinspection when a product sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the pork, according to the FSIS. Prime Line Distributors Inc. has recalled various weight cardboard cases containing two pieces of individually vacuum-packed “Prime Line Distributors, Inc. Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” items with a best if used by date of May 16, 2027, and the lot number 263311US. The company also recalled various individually vacuum-sealed packages of “Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” items with the same lot number and expiration date, bearing an additional “Dok Guanciale” label on the packaging. Ferrarini USA, Inc. recalled various weights of cardboard cases containing two pieces of individually vacuum-packed “Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” and various weights of individually vacuum-packed “Ferrarini Guanciale Dry-Cured Pork Jowl” — both with the same best if used by date of May 16, 2027, and the lot number 263311US. The possibly contaminated meat bears the establishment number “IT 1937 L CE” inside the Italian mark of inspection or printed on the case label. Prime Line Distributors, Inc. items were shipped to food service and retail locations in Florida, while Ferrarini USA, Inc. items were shipped to distributors and food service locations in California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. The FSIS expressed concern that some products may still be in food service and retail refrigerators and freezers, urging companies not to serve or sell these products. Consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can lead to listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and their newborns. The illness can be treated with antibiotics and may cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes following diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnant women, the infection can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infections in newborns. Serious and potentially fatal infections are also possible in older adults and those with weakened immune systems.