By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-09-07 13:01:38 | Updated at 2026-09-07 13:44:10
1 hour ago
Prime Line Distributors and Ferrarini USA are recalling roughly 1,513 pounds of pork products due to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The imported ready-to-eat dry-cured pork jowl items were manufactured in Italy on May 21 and brought into the United States in July, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in a Sept. 6 announcement.
Florida-based Prime Line Distributors Inc. recalled products “Prime Line Distributors Inc. Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” and “Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy,” while New Jersey-based Ferrarini recalled “Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” and “Ferrarini Guanciale Dry-Cured Pork Jowl.”
All four items carry lot code 263311US with a “Best If Used By” date of May 16, 2027. Prime Line products were shipped to retail and food service locations in Florida, and Ferrarini’s products were distributed to food service locations in California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.
People who consume food contaminated with listeria can suffer from intestinal or invasive illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a February 2025 report.
Symptoms of invasive illness include fever, confusion, headache, seizures, loss of balance, flu-like symptoms, and stiff neck. These symptoms typically begin within two weeks of consuming the contaminated food.
Meanwhile, symptoms of intestinal illness typically begin within 24 hours of eating the food and include vomiting and diarrhea.
In its statement, FSIS said that Listeria infection primarily affects people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, newborns, and older adults.
“In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn,” FSIS said. The infection can result in “serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics.”
People in high-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months of eating contaminated food are advised to consult their healthcare provider.
The recall has been classified as “High-Class I,” the most severe of the three recall classifications by the Department of Agriculture. The designation is issued when using the product may result in adverse health consequences or even death.
According to FSIS, there have been no confirmed reports of illness from consuming the recalled products so far. The contamination was discovered after a product sample under test showed the presence of Listeria, the agency said.
The Epoch Times reached out to Prime Line Distributors and Ferrarini USA for comment but did not receive any response by publication time.
The FSIS announcement comes as multiple listeria outbreaks have been recorded over the past year. According to an Aug. 26 alert from the CDC, an outbreak linked to soft cheese resulted in 15 infections across four states, including 14 hospitalizations and 1 death.
An earlier outbreak, linked to prepared pasta meals, led to 28 cases in 19 states, with 27 people getting hospitalized and seven deaths. Investigations into both these outbreaks are now closed.
According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, over 100,000 Americans end up getting hospitalized and roughly 3,000 die every year due to foodborne illnesses.
During 2016–2018, there were 0.27 laboratory-diagnosed, domestically acquired Listeria infections per 100,000 people every year on average in the United States, according to the agency. The aim is to lower this number. However, as of 2024, the rate had increased to 0.36 per 100,000 individuals.
