A recall of imported ready-to-eat pork products has been issued across eight states after federal inspectors detected possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, prompting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to classify the action as a Class I recall, its most serious warning level.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Sunday, September 6, 2026, that Prime Line Distributors and Ferrarini USA are recalling about 1,513 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale—LOT: 263311US; best-by date: May 16, 2027; establishment number: IT 1937 L CE—a dry-cured pork jowl product commonly used in Italian cuisine.
States Affected by the Pork Recall
The affected products were produced in Italy on May 21 and imported into the United States in July.
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The recalled products were distributed to food service, retail, and distributor locations in the following states:
CaliforniaFloridaIdahoIllinoisMichiganNew JerseyNew YorkTexas
According to FSIS, the contamination concern was identified during routine import reinspection testing when a sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products.
Consumers are being urged not to eat the products and to either discard them or return them to the place of purchase. Food service operators and retailers have also been instructed not to sell or serve the affected items.
Newsweek has emailed Prime Line Distributors and Ferrarini USA for comment.
Pork Recall Comes Amid Surge in Foodborne Illnesses
The latest recall arrives during a year that has seen an unusual number of food safety alerts and foodborne illness outbreaks across the United States.
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows 18,445 laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired Cyclospora infections have been reported since May 1, with cases confirmed in 49 states and the District of Columbia. The outbreak is one of the largest foodborne illness events recorded in recent years.
The CDC also recently reported that more than 11,400 illnesses, 495 hospitalizations, and two deaths were linked to a Cyclospora outbreak traced to processed iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. Although the recalled lettuce has already been removed from stores and restaurants, health officials say case counts continue to rise because symptoms and reporting can lag exposure by weeks.
At the same time, a wide range of August food recalls found products ranging from frozen berries and pistachio butter to sprouts, jalapeño peppers, and other produce were pulled from shelves over concerns involving Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria contamination.
Several recalls were tied to multistate outbreaks and affected consumers across large portions of the country.
What Is Listeria?
According to FSIS, Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a potentially serious infection that primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms may include:
FeverMuscle aches
HeadacheStiff neckConfusionLoss of balanceConvulsions
In severe cases, the infection can spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract. For pregnant women, listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infections in newborns.
The recall was designated as a Class I event, meaning there is a reasonable probability that use of the product could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
FSIS said it is conducting recall effectiveness checks to ensure affected products are removed from commerce and warned that some may still be in refrigerators or freezers at food service establishments and retail locations.
Consumers who believe they may have become ill after eating the recalled pork products are advised to contact a health care provider.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick and James Debens
Dining and Cooking