USDA recalls 1,500 pounds of pork products distributed to eight states

Sept. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. health officials have urgently recalled more than 1,500 pounds of ready-to-eat pork products distributed across eight states that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Class I recall covers pork products imported from Italy into the United States by Prime Line Distributors, Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Ferrarini USA Inc., of Hoboken, N.J., the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Sunday. The imported RTE dry-cured pork jowl or "guanciale," products were produced at Est. 1937L Bome SRL in Italy on May 21 and imported into the United States on various dates during July. The Prime Line items were shipped to food service and retail locations in Florida, while the Ferrarini USA items were shipped to distributors and food service locations in California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas. The recalled products distributed by Prime Line 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. The recalled products from Ferrarini USA 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. The products subject to recall bear establishment number "IT 1937 L CE" inside the Italian mark of inspection or printed on the case label. "The problem was discovered during routine import reinspection testing when a product saple confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes," the FSIS said in its recall notice. There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of these products, officials said. Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected. The illness is marked by fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms, while an invasive infection can spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract.