Prime Line Distributors and Ferrarini USA have recalled approximately 1,513 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced on September 6, 2026. The dry-cured pork jowl products were produced in Italy on May 21, 2026, and imported into the United States in July 2026, bearing lot number 263311US and a best-if-used-by date of May 16, 2027.
The contamination was discovered during routine import reinspection testing, when laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a product sample. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products as of the announcement date. The FSIS has classified the recall as Class I, the agency’s highest warning level, indicating a direct threat to human health.
The recalled products were distributed to food service and retail locations across eight states. Prime Line Distributors’ items reached Florida, while Ferrarini USA’s products were shipped to California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. Both companies have been urged by FSIS to ensure the products are removed from circulation, with food service and retail locations instructed not to serve or sell the items and to discard or return them.
Listeria monocytogenes poses a significant health risk, particularly to vulnerable populations. Consumption of contaminated food can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnant women, the infection can trigger miscarriages, stillbirths, or premature delivery. The infection is treatable with antibiotics, but invasive cases can be fatal, especially in older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
This recall reflects a broader pattern of listeria-related food safety concerns. In 2024, a deadly listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats resulted in 10 deaths and 59 hospitalizations across 19 states, making it the largest U.S. listeria outbreak in more than a decade, according to the CDC. That outbreak prompted a massive recall of 71 products produced between May and July 2024 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brands. The 2024 incident underscored the severity of ready-to-eat meat contamination and the importance of rigorous testing protocols.
Food safety data shows that recalls remain a persistent concern in 2026. As of mid-August, there have been 162 food recalls issued in the year, continuing a trend of elevated recall activity. The FSIS has emphasized that consumers should contact a healthcare provider if they have concerns about illness from consuming the recalled products. Consumers with food safety questions can reach the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or submit inquiries via email to MPHotline@usda.gov.
Sources
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service — official recall announcement for Prime Line Distributors and Ferrarini USA guanciale products, September 6, 2026, including product details, distribution states, and health risk information.
- CDC — investigation data on the 2024 Boar’s Head listeria outbreak, documenting 10 deaths and 59 hospitalizations across 19 states.
- Newsweek — reporting on the pork guanciale recall affecting eight states and the USDA’s Class I warning classification.
- Food Safety News — details on the recalled guanciale products and lot number identification.
- WBALTV — data on 2026 food recall statistics, reporting 162 recalls issued year-to-date as of August 14, 2026.
