Prime Line and Ferrarini USA Recall Pork Guanciale Over Listeria Risk 2026

Prime Line Distributors, Inc., based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Ferrarini USA, Inc., based in Hoboken, New Jersey, are recalling approximately 1,513 pounds of imported ready-to-eat (RTE) dry-cured pork jowl, known as ‘guanciale,’ due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall on September 6, 2026, classifying it as a High, Class I event.

What Products Are Being Recalled?

The affected products were produced at Est. 1937L Bome SRL in Italy on May 21, 2026, and imported into the United States on various dates during July 2026. The recall covers several package types bearing ‘LOT: 263311US’ and a ‘BEST IF USE BY DATE’ of 05.16.27, including:

• Cardboard cases containing two individually vacuum-packed pieces labeled ‘PRIME LINE DISTRIBUTORS, INC. GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY’
• Individually vacuum-packaged ‘GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY’ with an additional ‘DOK GUANCIALE’ label
• Cardboard cases containing two individually vacuum-packed pieces labeled ‘GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY’ (Ferrarini USA)
• Individually vacuum-packaged ‘FERRARINI GUANCIALE DRY-CURED PORK JOWL’

All recalled products carry the establishment number ‘IT 1937 L CE’ inside the Italian mark of inspection or printed on the case label.

Why Was This Recall Issued?

The issue was discovered during routine import reinspection testing, when a product sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Consuming food contaminated with Lm can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal issues. In pregnant women, the infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn, while it can also cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and immunocompromised individuals.

Who Is Affected?

The Prime Line Distributors, Inc., items were shipped to food service and retail locations in Florida. The Ferrarini USA, Inc., items were shipped to distributors and food service locations in California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas. There have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to consumption of these products as of the announcement date.

What Should You Do?

FSIS is concerned that some of the recalled products may still be in food service and retail refrigerators or freezers. Food service operators and retailers are urged not to serve or sell these products. Consumers and businesses in possession of the recalled guanciale should throw the product away or return it to the place of purchase. Anyone in a higher-risk category who experiences flu-like symptoms within two months of eating the contaminated product should seek medical care and inform their provider about the exposure. Media and consumers with questions about the Prime Line Distributors, Inc. products can contact Liliana Rojas, QA/QC Manager, at 954-925-4500 or liliana.rojas@primelinedist.com. Media and consumers with questions about the Ferrarini USA, Inc. products can contact Luca Infantino, Chief Financial Officer, at 818-256-1622 or Luca@ferrariniusa.com. Consumers with general food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or email MPHotline@usda.gov. Problems with a meat, poultry or egg product can also be reported through the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System, available 24 hours a day.

Official Statement

FSIS stated that it routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms notify their customers and take steps to ensure the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, retail distribution lists will be posted on the FSIS website.