Trade Policy Neutral 5

1,513 lbs Imported Guanciale Recalled for Listeria Across 9 States

A Class I recall of 1,513 pounds of imported dry-cured pork jowl has triggered traceback across two importers and nine U.S. states. The discovery, made during routine FSIS import reinspection, underscores vulnerabilities in import controls for ready-to-eat specialty meats.

· 4 min read · Verified by 2 sources ·

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Supply Chain briefing

Key takeaways

5 impact
Neutralsentiment
2sources
4min read
  1. A Class I recall of 1,513 pounds of imported dry-cured pork jowl has triggered traceback across two importers and nine U.S.
  2. The discovery, made during routine FSIS import reinspection, underscores vulnerabilities in import controls for ready-to-eat specialty meats.
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In this briefing

Mentioned

Key Intelligence

Key Facts

  1. 1Approximately 1,513 pounds of imported ready-to-eat dry-cured pork jowl (guanciale) were recalled due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
  2. 2Produced in Italy on May 21, 2026 at Bome SRL (establishment IT 1937 L CE), the product was imported to the U.S. in July 2026, with lot 263311US and best-if-used-by date May 16, 2027.
  3. 3Prime Line Distributors shipped recalled items to food service and retail locations in Florida, while Ferrarini USA distributed to California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.
  4. 4FSIS classified the recall as Class I, meaning consumption has a reasonable probability of causing serious health consequences or death.
  5. 5The contamination was identified through routine FSIS import reinspection testing; as of September 8, 2026, no confirmed illnesses had been reported.
  6. 6Listeriosis is especially dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems; FSIS advises those with symptoms within two months of consumption to seek care.

Who's Affected

Prime Line Distributors, Inc.
companyNegative
Ferrarini USA, Inc.
companyNegative
Bome SRL
companyNegative
USDA FSIS
government agencyPositive

Analysis

For supply chain and logistics professionals, the recall of lot 263311US is a real-world test of traceability and recall execution. Product made in Italy on May 21, 2026 and imported in July has been linked to a positive Listeria sample during routine import reinspection—demonstrating both the value and the operational burden of port-of-entry testing. With distribution from Prime Line Distributors in Florida and Ferrarini USA across eight additional states, this is now a multi-tier containment exercise involving distributors, food service operators, and retail channels.

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a Class I recall for approximately 1,513 pounds of imported ready-to-eat dry-cured pork jowl, a specialty Italian product known as guanciale, after routine import reinspection testing detected Listeria monocytogenes. The recall, announced on September 8, 2026, centers on a single production lot, number 263311US, produced at Est. 1937L Bome SRL in Italy on May 21, 2026 and imported to the United States in July 2026. The product carries a best-if-used-by date of May 16, 2027 and the EU establishment code IT 1937 L CE, creating an unusually wide potential retail and food service exposure window because the item could remain in commerce for more than eight months after its production date.

For supply chain and logistics professionals, the recall of lot 263311US is a real-world test of traceability and recall execution.

The recall involves two U.S. import and distribution firms. Prime Line Distributors, Inc., based in Florida, shipped recalled guanciale to food service and retail locations within Florida. Ferrarini USA, Inc., based in New Jersey, distributed the affected product to distributors and food service businesses in California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. This eight-state footprint plus Florida means the recall touches both direct-to-retail and indirect distributor channels, forcing companies at multiple supply-chain layers to verify whether they received the specific lot. Because guanciale is a dry-cured, ready-to-eat pork jowl product that is typically sliced and consumed without a final cooking kill step, any Listeria contamination on the product presents a direct food-safety risk rather than a risk that could be mitigated by consumer preparation.

FSIS identified the contamination during routine import reinspection testing, an entry-point control that samples imported meat and poultry products before and after they clear U.S. borders. The positive test triggered an immediate Class I recall, the agency's highest-risk designation, which is reserved for situations where there is a reasonable probability that consumption will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. This classification underscores that Listeria monocytogenes is not a spoilage organism but a virulent pathogen, and it shifts the regulatory response from routine product action to public health alert and supply-chain containment.

Listeriosis can produce fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and gastrointestinal symptoms, and symptoms can appear within two months after exposure. The infection is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems. FSIS has advised anyone who develops flu-like symptoms after consuming the recalled guanciale to seek medical attention. As of September 8, 2026, no confirmed illnesses had been reported, according to Food Safety News. The absence of reported cases at the time of announcement is consistent with early detection and recall, but public health officials will continue monitoring given the pathogen's long incubation period and the product's extended shelf life.

What to Watch

From a supply-chain and trade perspective, this recall reinforces the fragility of imported specialty foods. Italy's Bome SRL is an approved EU establishment, yet a single positive test at a U.S. inspection point was enough to trigger a multi-state recall. The incident demonstrates that even facilities with valid import approvals are subject to ongoing verification, and that U.S. importers must maintain lot-level traceability records that can support rapid recalls across multiple distribution routes. The lot code and establishment number provide a clear trace-back path, but the dual-importer structure and indirect distribution via Ferrarini USA to other distributors mean the full scope of product in commerce may take additional days to map. Retailers, food service operators, and distributors should check inventories against lot 263311US and the establishment code IT 1937 L CE rather than relying solely on product labels.

Looking ahead, the FSIS investigation may expand if additional samples or distribution records indicate a wider contamination event. Even without illnesses, the recall could have consequences for Prime Line Distributors and Ferrarini USA in terms of customer trust, destruction or return logistics, and potential regulatory scrutiny of their import verification procedures. For the specialty foods supply chain, the episode is a reminder that long shelf-life, ready-to-eat imported products require vigorous entry-point testing and robust traceability, and that Class I findings can move extremely quickly from a routine sample to a nationwide public alert.

Timeline

Timeline

  1. Production in Italy

  2. Import to the United States

  3. Class I recall announced

Source cluster

Primary reporting

2articles

Cite This Page

"1,513 lbs Imported Guanciale Recalled for Listeria Across 9 States." Supply Chain Intelligence Brief, September 8, 2026. https://getsupplybrief.com/story/supply-1513-lbs-guanciale-listeria-recall-9-states

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