USDA Issues Serious Listeria Warning For Pork Sold Across Eight States

A routine inspection has triggered a major food safety alert after federal inspectors detected Listeria in imported ready-to-eat pork products distributed across eight states. The USDA has classified the recall as a Class I event, its most serious recall category, raising the stakes for consumers who may have the affected products at home or businesses that still have them in storage.

About 1,513 pounds of dry-cured pork jowl, commonly known as guanciale, are included in the recall. The products were imported from Italy and distributed through retail, food service, and distributor locations, while federal officials say no confirmed illnesses have been linked to the recalled meat so far.

Federal Testing Triggered The Pork Recall

Prime Line Distributors, Inc. and Ferrarini USA, Inc. are recalling approximately 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 announced the recall after routine import reinspection testing detected the potentially dangerous bacteria in a product sample.

The recalled guanciale was produced at Est. 1937L Bome SRL in Italy on May 21, 2026, before being imported into the United States on various dates during July. Guanciale is a dry-cured pork jowl that is commonly used in Italian cuisine, meaning the affected products can turn up in both specialty food settings and food service operations.

The contamination was not discovered because people had already become sick. Instead, FSIS found the problem through its routine import inspection process, when a sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

That distinction is important because the recall announcement does not report a known outbreak connected to the pork. FSIS said there have been no confirmed reports of illness associated with consumption of these products.

Eight States Received The Recalled Products

The affected pork was distributed through multiple channels, with products reaching retail locations, food service operations, and distributors in several parts of the country. Consumers in eight states are specifically included in the distribution area identified by FSIS.

The states named in the recall are:

• California: Ferrarini products were shipped to distributors and food service locations.
• Florida: Both Prime Line and Ferrarini products were distributed through retail, food service, and related channels.
• Idaho: Ferrarini products were shipped to distributors and food service locations.
• Illinois: Ferrarini products were distributed to food service locations and distributors.
• Michigan: The state was among the destinations for the recalled Ferrarini products.
• New Jersey: Ferrarini products were shipped to food service and distributor locations.
• New York: Recalled Ferrarini products were distributed through the identified food service and distributor network.
• Texas: Ferrarini products were also shipped to food service and distributor locations.

Prime Line Distributors products were shipped to food service and retail locations in Florida. Ferrarini USA products were distributed more broadly across all eight states listed by FSIS.

Check The Package Before Eating Guanciale

The recalled products can be identified through several details printed on the packaging. Consumers should compare the information on their packages with the identifiers provided by FSIS rather than relying solely on the product name.

The recalled products carry the lot number 263311US and a best-if-used-by date of May 16, 2027. They also bear establishment number IT 1937 L CE, which appears inside the Italian mark of inspection or on the case label.

Prime Line packages may be labeled “PRIME LINE DISTRIBUTORS, INC. GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY.” Other Prime Line packages may read “GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY” and include an additional “DOK GUANCIALE” label.

Ferrarini USA recalled several versions of the product as well. These include packages labeled “GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY” and “FERRARINI GUANCIALE DRY-CURED PORK JOWL.”

The recalled packaging includes various weights and configurations. Some products were sold as cardboard cases containing two individually vacuum-packed pieces, while other products were sold as individually vacuum-packed packages.

Why A Class I Recall Is So Serious

The USDA’s Class I designation is the highest level used for food recalls by FSIS. It is reserved for situations in which there is a reasonable probability that consuming or using the recalled product could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

That classification does not mean that people have already suffered serious illness from the product. In this case, the supplied FSIS announcement specifically states that there have been no confirmed reports of illness associated with the recalled pork.

The classification instead reflects the potential severity of the hazard involved. Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that presents a greater risk to certain groups of people.

FSIS is concerned that some recalled products could still be sitting in refrigerators or freezers at retail and food service locations. The agency is urging businesses not to sell or serve the affected products and says they should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.

Listeria Can Cause A Serious Infection

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, and the resulting infection can range from mild illness to severe disease. Older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns are among those at greatest risk for serious complications.

According to the supplied FSIS information, symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms can sometimes occur before the more serious symptoms develop.

Invasive listeriosis can occur when an infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. That form of illness can become particularly dangerous for older adults and people whose immune systems are weakened.

Pregnancy carries a different set of risks. Listeriosis during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection affecting the newborn.

The illness can be treated with antibiotics, according to FSIS. People in higher-risk groups who develop flu-like symptoms after potentially eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their healthcare provider about the possible food exposure.

Ready-To-Eat Meat Creates A Particular Concern

The recalled products are described by FSIS as ready-to-eat pork products. That means the products are intended to be consumed without requiring the kind of preparation associated with raw meat before eating.

This is one reason consumers should follow the recall instructions rather than trying to decide whether the product looks or smells safe. Food contaminated with Listeria cannot necessarily be identified by its appearance or smell.

FSIS is asking retailers and food service operators to make sure the recalled products are not sold or served. Consumers who find affected packages should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Anyone handling a recalled product should also avoid eating a small amount to test it. The recall exists because federal testing identified a potential contamination hazard, so there is no reason to take that risk.

The Recall Comes During A Busy Food Safety Year

The pork alert arrives as federal health officials are also tracking a large number of reported foodborne illnesses across the United States. One of the most significant figures involves Cyclospora, a parasite that causes an intestinal infection known as cyclosporiasis.

CDC data supplied for this story show 18,445 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the United States since May 1, 2026. Those cases have been reported across 49 states and the District of Columbia.

The number is substantially higher than the figure reported during the same period in 2025. Between May 1 and August 31, 2025, the CDC recorded 1,180 laboratory-confirmed U.S. cases.

The 2026 total includes illnesses associated with a large multistate outbreak linked to processed iceberg lettuce from central Mexico. CDC says the outbreak contributed significantly to the increase in cases recorded this year.

The agency is also investigating additional clusters for which sources have not yet been confirmed. If investigators identify a source and determine that consumers need to take a specific action, CDC says it will issue an outbreak notice.

Cyclospora Numbers May Continue To Rise

The current Cyclospora figures should not be interpreted as a final count for the 2026 season. CDC says there is a significant reporting delay because it can take about six weeks from the beginning of symptoms for case information to reach the agency.

Some people also recover without seeking medical care, which means they may never be tested for Cyclospora. As a result, the actual number of people who became sick is likely higher than the laboratory-confirmed figure.

The U.S. cyclosporiasis season runs from May 1 through August 31. However, CDC expects to continue identifying and investigating cases after August because illnesses can take time to be diagnosed and reported.

The CDC data updated September 1 show 990 hospitalizations and two deaths among the 18,445 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the United States during the May 1 through August 31 period. The data are preliminary and can change as health departments submit additional information.

CDC also lists thousands of additional cases that require further investigation or have not yet been fully confirmed. The agency says there are 3,491 laboratory-confirmed cases requiring further investigation to determine whether they were acquired in the United States or during travel, along with at least 13,505 additional cases that are not laboratory confirmed or remain pending further investigation.

Food Recalls Can Reveal Problems Before Outbreaks Grow

The pork recall illustrates why routine food safety testing can be significant even when there is no known outbreak. Federal inspectors identified Listeria through reinspection testing before the recall announcement was connected to any confirmed illnesses.

That does not mean the contamination risk should be dismissed because no illnesses have been reported. The Class I classification reflects the potential consequences of consuming a product contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Food recalls also rely on consumers and businesses recognizing the specific product information. A recalled item can move through different distribution channels, which makes the lot number and other packaging details especially useful.

In this case, the affected products share several identifiers that can help distinguish them from other guanciale products. The lot number is 263311US, the best-if-used-by date is May 16, 2027, and the establishment number is IT 1937 L CE.

What Consumers Should Do With Recalled Pork

Anyone who finds a package matching the recalled product information should avoid consuming it. FSIS recommends that recalled products be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers should also avoid serving the product to family members or guests. Restaurants, retailers, and other food service operations should check their refrigerators and freezers for the affected products and ensure they are not sold or served.

The most useful checks include:

1. Inspect the package: Look for the recalled guanciale product names and packaging descriptions listed by FSIS. The products can appear under either Prime Line or Ferrarini labeling.
2. Check the lot number: The recalled products carry lot number 263311US. This identifier can help distinguish the affected products from other packages.
3. Check the date: The affected packages have a best-if-used-by date of May 16, 2027. The date should be considered alongside the other recall identifiers.
4. Look for the establishment number: IT 1937 L CE appears inside the Italian mark of inspection or on the case label. This provides another way to identify the recalled meat.
5. Do not eat the product: If the package matches the recall information, discard it or return it to the place of purchase instead of consuming it.

People who believe they may have developed an illness after eating potentially contaminated food should pay attention to symptoms and seek medical care when appropriate. Those in higher-risk groups who develop flu-like symptoms should tell their healthcare provider about the possible exposure to contaminated food.

There Are No Confirmed Illnesses Linked To The Pork

For now, there is one piece of information that should remain clear alongside the seriousness of the recall: FSIS has reported no confirmed illnesses connected to these products. The contamination was discovered during routine import reinspection testing rather than through reports of people becoming sick.

That early detection gives retailers and consumers a chance to remove the affected pork from circulation. It also means the recall instructions can be followed before the situation develops into a confirmed foodborne illness outbreak.

The affected products are identifiable, the distribution states have been listed, and the federal agency has provided specific instructions for handling them. Anyone with the recalled guanciale should follow those instructions rather than taking a chance on a product that federal testing has flagged for Listeria contamination.

For consumers, the safest move is simple: check the label, check the lot, and keep recalled pork off the plate.