Guanciale Recall: Italian Pork Jowl Pulled in 8 States Over Listeria

If you keep a block of guanciale in the fridge for carbonara nights, read this before your next batch. On September 6, federal inspectors flagged a batch of imported Italian pork jowl over listeria, and it landed the highest recall class the USDA hands out. I cook with guanciale often enough that this one stopped me mid-scroll, so I dug into the actual paperwork instead of the headlines.

What was recalled

Prime Line Distributors, Inc. (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) and Ferrarini USA, Inc. (Hoboken, New Jersey) are recalling about 1,513 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale — the dry-cured pork jowl that gives a real Roman carbonara or amatriciana its backbone. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced it on September 6, 2026, after a routine import reinspection sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

Here are the details worth writing down before you check your fridge:

• Product: “Guanciale Pork Jowl, Product of Italy,” sold in various cardboard cases and individually vacuum-sealed packages.
• Lot: 263311US
• Best if used by: May 16, 2027 (05.16.27)
• Establishment number: IT 1937 L CE (produced in Italy on May 21, imported to the U.S. in July)

Where it was sold

This one moved through distributors and food-service accounts — think restaurants and specialty suppliers — rather than a big-box grocery run, so it shipped to eight states: California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas. If you bought guanciale from an Italian deli or a specialty shop recently, it’s worth a look. FSIS rated this a Class I recall, meaning the health risk is serious.

Why listeria in a cured product matters

Guanciale is cured, not cooked, and a lot of us shave it straight into the pan (or, honestly, nibble a scrap raw while it renders). That’s exactly why listeria in a ready-to-eat product gets a top-tier warning. Listeria can cause fever, muscle aches, and stomach upset, and it’s especially dangerous for pregnant people, newborns, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system. As of the announcement, no illnesses had been linked to these products — the recall came from testing, not a reported outbreak, which is the system working the way it should.

What to do if you have it

Don’t taste it to check. Check the lot number and best-by date against the list above. If it matches, throw it away or take it back to where you bought it for a refund. And give the fridge shelf where it sat a good wipe with hot soapy water — listeria is one of the few bugs that keeps growing at refrigerator temperatures.

Don’t give up on carbonara night

None of this means guanciale is off the table — it means you check the lot. Once you’ve confirmed yours is clear (or picked up a fresh piece from a trusted counter), it’s still the ingredient I’d reach for. If you want a fun weeknight spin on the classic, my buldak carbonara ramen leans on that same salty, glossy, egg-and-pork idea with a spicy twist.

Sources

• USDA FSIS — Prime Line Distributors and Ferrarini USA recall imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale
• Newsweek — Pork recall in 8 states as highest warning issued over listeria concerns
• Food Safety News