NEW YORK — Prime Line Distributors, Inc. and Ferrarini USA, Inc. recalled approximately 1,513 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service classified the recall as Class I, its highest warning level.

The USDA defines a Class I recall as a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death. Listeriosis is a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and their newborns. Symptoms of listeriosis can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

The contamination was discovered during routine import reinspection testing when a product sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products. Prime Line Distributors, Inc. is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while Ferrarini USA, Inc. is based in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Prime Line Distributors products were shipped to food service and retail locations in Florida. Ferrarini USA products were shipped to distributors and food service locations in California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. Prime Line Distributors and Ferrarini USA are separate entities that received imported product from the same source in Italy.

Ferrarini Group CEO Daniela Filipaz stated that FSIS detected Listeria monocytogenes in a sample drawn from product shipped to another U.S. importer, while samples taken from Ferrarini USA product during the same import reinspection tested negative. Ferrarini USA recalled its product as a precaution because it came from the same production lot as the contaminated product, despite its own samples testing negative.

Why It Matters

The Class I designation signals the most severe risk category under federal food safety protocols, indicating a reasonable probability of serious health consequences or death from consumption. This recall affects multiple states across the U.S. requiring immediate removal of specific imported pork products from supply chains to protect vulnerable populations including pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems.

The detection occurred through routine import reinspection rather than consumer complaints. The involvement of two separate distributors receiving product from the same Italian source demonstrates how contamination in a single production lot can trigger broad recalls across different corporate entities and geographic regions.

Timeline

The imported RTE dry-cured pork jowl ("guanciale") products were produced in Italy on May 21, 2026, and imported into the U.S. on various dates within July 2026. The recalled products were produced on May 21, 2026, at Est. 1937L Bome SRL in Italy.

Recalled Prime Line Distributors products include individually vacuum-sealed packages labeled 'Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy' with an additional 'Dok Guanciale' label, lot number 263311US, and a best if used by date of May 16, 2027. Recalled Ferrarini USA products include individually vacuum-packed packages labeled 'Ferrarini Guanciale Dry-Cured Pork Jowl' with lot number 263311US and a best if used by date of May 16, 2027.

What's New

The FSIS stated that food service and retail locations are urged not to serve or sell these products and that they should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. The problem was discovered during routine import reinspection testing when a product sample confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled products were imported into the United States on various dates in July.