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More than 1,500 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork products have been recalled over concerns about possible listeria contamination.
Two U.S.-based companies are issuing recalls for a total of about 1,513 pounds of dry-cured pork jowl products, also known as guanciale, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Sunday.
The recall is classified as a Class I recall, the USDA’s most serious recall classification, indicating there is a reasonable probability that consuming the products could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
Florida-based Prime Line Distributors, Inc. and New Jersey-based Ferrarini USA, Inc. recalled two products each over fears they “may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm),” FSIS said in its announcement.
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Prime Line Distributors recalled various weight cardboard cases of two individually vacuum-packed “Prime Line Distributors, Inc. Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” items and various weight individually vacuum-packaged “Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” items.
Ferrarini USA recalled various weight cardboard cases with two pieces of individually vacuum-packed “Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” and various weight individually vacuum-packed “Ferrarini Guanciale Dry-Cured Pork Jowl” products.
Each of these recalled products include a best if used by date of May 16, 2027, and a lot number of 263311US printed on the label. The items also have the establishment number IT 1937 L CE printed inside the Italian mark of inspection or on the items’ case label.
The affected food items were produced at Est. 1937L Bome SRL in Italy on May 21 and imported into the U.S. in July.
The recalled Prime Line Distributors food items were sent to food service and retail companies in Florida, while the Ferrarini USA products were shipped to distributors and food service locations in California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas.
The issue was discovered during routine import reinspection testing, when a product sample confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm).
Consumption of food contaminated with Lm can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women and their newborns.
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract.
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In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
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FSIS advised that people in higher-risk groups experiencing flu-like symptoms within two months of eating contaminated items should seek medical attention.
There have been no confirmed reports of illness in connection with the consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness is urged to contact a healthcare provider.
“FSIS is concerned that some products may be in food service and retail refrigerators and freezers. Food service and retail locations are urged not to serve or sell these products,” the agency said.
Food items affected by the recall should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.
