A highly valued cured pork product—known primarily for its use in Spaghetti Carbonara—is being pulled from shelves.
1,513 pounds of imported, ready-to-eat pork guanciale (cured pork jowl) has been recalled due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Some of the product was sold right here in New Jersey.
Recalled: Pork Guanciale
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) announced the recall on Sunday, classifying it as a Class I Recall—the USDA’s highest warning level, which typically involves “high to medium risk” products.
Contamination was discovered during a routine import inspection, when a sample tested positive for Listeria, according to the agency. No illnesses have been reported so far.
The recall includes two primary companies: Prime Line Distributors Inc., based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Ferrarini USA, INC., based out of Hoboken, New Jersey.
Here is what’s being recalled from each company:
Prime Line
- Cardboard cases containing two individually vacuum-packed pieces of “Prime Line Distributors, Inc. Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy”
- Also recalled: individually vacuum-sealed packages bearing an additional “Dok Guanciale” label
- Best if used by date: May 16, 2027; lot number: 263311US
Ferrarini USA
- Cardboard cases with two vacuum-packed pieces of “Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy”
- Individually vacuum-packed “Ferrarini Guanciale Dry-Cured Pork Jowl”
- Same best-by date and lot number as above
Ferrarini products were specifically distributed to New Jersey, along with California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Texas. Prime Line guanciale was primarily distributed within Florida. All affected products carry the Italian inspection mark “IT 1937 L CE” on the case label or packaging.
FSIS’s main concern now is that affected packages could still be sitting in food service or retail storage, without anyone realizing it. Businesses who utilize imported guanciale are being urged to check the labels, and toss any potentially affected product.
Symptoms
Listeriosis—the infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes—primarily affects older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns.
Symptoms to keep an eye on include fever, muscle aches, stiff neck, headaches, confusion, imbalance, convulsions, diarrhea, and other GI abnormalities. Pregnant women can experience miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or serious infection in newborns. The infection can be fatal for older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
Listeriosis is treatable with antibiotics—those who experience symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
If you’re someone who likes to cook carbonara, you should double-check the label on that hunk of guanciale that’s sitting in your fridge—FSIS’s highest warning level is nothing to play around with.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
