More than 1,500 pounds of ready-to-eat pork shipped to New York, New Jersey, and six other states have been recalled at the US Department of Agriculture’s “highest warning” level due to Listeria concerns.
Two US-based companies — Prime Line Distributors, Inc. based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Ferrarini USA, Inc, based in Hoboken — have recalled 1,513 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale that may be “adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes,” the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced on Sunday.
The recall, classified as a “Class I” recall, is the USDA’s highest warning level involving “high or medium risk.”
The problem was revealed during a routine import reinspection when a product sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
No one has been sickened due to consuming the pork thus far, the FSIS said in a statement.
Prime Line Distributors Inc. has recalled various weight cardboard cases containing two pieces of individually vacuum-packed “Prime Line Distributors, Inc. Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” items with a best if used by date of May 16, 2027, and the lot number 263311US.
The Sunshine State company also recalled various individually vacuum-sealed packages of “Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” items with the same lot number and expiration date, bearing an additional “Dok Guanciale” label on the packaging.
Ferranin USA, Inc. recalled various weights of cardboard cases containing two pieces of individually vacuum-packed “Guanciale Pork Jowl Product of Italy” and various weights of individually vacuum-packed “Ferrarini Guanciale Dry-Cured Pork Jowl” — both with the same best if used by date of May 16, 2027, and the lot number 263311US.
The slew of possibly contaminated meat bears the establishment number “IT 1937 L CE” inside the Italian mark of inspection or printed on the case label.
Prime Line Distributors, Inc, items were shipped to food service and retail locations in Florida, and Ferrarini USA, Inc., items were shipped to distributors and food service locations in California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas, officials said.
“FSIS is concerned that some products may be in food service and retail refrigerators and freezers,” the FSIS wrote, urging companies “not to serve or sell these products.”
Consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and their newborns.
The illness — which can be treated with antibiotics — can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes after diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
Serious and sometimes fatal infections are also possible in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.
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