This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) alerted consumers to a food recall involving more than 1,500 pounds of pork product distributed to eight states.
The recall is being initiated due to fears that the pork may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially deadly bacterium. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s happened?
On September 6, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published a recall notice for imported ready-to-eat (RTE) dry-cured pork jowl (“guanciale”) products produced in Italy.
The recall covers approximately 1,513 pounds of the pork products that were imported into the United States by two firms: Prime Line Distributors, Inc. of a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Ferrarini USA, Inc. of Hoboken, New Jersey.
The recall is being initiated because the recalled pork products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, an infection that can be potentially deadly.
What products are included in the recall?
There are numerous pork products included in this recall. All were produced in Italy in May, and imported into the United States in July.
All products in the recall bear the establishment number “IT 1937 L CE” inside the Italian mark of inspection or on the label of the case the product was shipped in.
The FSIS says products distributed by Prime Line Distributors in this recall include:
- Various weight cardboard cases containing two pieces of individually vacuumed packed “PRIME LINE DISTRIBUTORS, INC. GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY” with “LOT: 263311US” and “BEST IF USE BY DATE: 05.16.27” printed on the label.
- Various weight individually vacuumed packaged “GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY” with “LOT: 263311US” and “BEST IF USE BY: 05.16.27” printed on the label. The product has an additional label with “DOK GUANCIALE” on the packaging.
Products distributed by Ferrarini USA in this recall include:
- Various weight cardboard cases containing two pieces of individually vacuumed packed “GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY” with “LOT: 263311US” and “BEST IF USE BY DATE: 05.16.27” printed on the label.
- Various weight individually vacuumed packaged “FERRARINI GUANCIALE DRY-CURED PORK JOWL” with “LOT: 263311US” and “BEST IF USE BY DATE: 05.16.27” printed on the label.
Images of the recalled products can be found here.
Where were the recalled products shipped?
The products included in this recall were distributed to various locations in 8 states.
The Prime Line Distributors products being recalled were shipped to retail and food service locations in one state:
- Florida
The Ferrarini USA products being recalled were shipped to food service locations and distributors in eight states:
- California
- Florida
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- New York
- Texas
What is Listeria monocytogenes?
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that, when consumed, can cause a Listeriosis infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Listeria infections have high mortality rates. The CDC says that in the US, about 1,250 people are infected with Listeria each year. Approximately 172 of those—more than 10%—die due to the infection.
While anyone can become infected with Listeria, Listeriosis can be particularly harmful to those over 65, pregnant women, newborns, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
What are the symptoms of a Listeria infection?
The CDC notes that Listeria can cause two types of illnesses: Intestinal and Invasive. Each has a different collection of symptoms.
An intestinal Listeria infection is primarily limited to the intestines. Symptoms of an intestinal Listeria infection include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
An invasive Listeria infection can be much more serious, as it has spread beyond the intestines, usually through the bloodstream, to other areas of the body. Symptoms of an invasive Listeria infection include:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
The CDC says women who are pregnant and who have an invasive Listeria infection may only experience flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches, fatigue, and fever.
What should I do if I have the recalled products?
The FSIS says it is concerned that the recalled product may be in the refrigerators and freezers of food service and retail providers. The agency is urging these providers not to serve or sell the recalled pork.
Instead, those who have the recalled items in their possession should throw them away or return them to their place of purchase.
Full details of the pork recall are available on the FSIS website here.