Texas is on the list in a pork recall over listeria

Texas is one of eight states named in a new pork recall.

The recall covers about 1,513 pounds of cured pork. The pork is called guanciale. That is pork jowl. Jowl is the cheek of the pig. It is dry cured and sold ready to eat. Cooks use it in pasta dishes.

The notice came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency in charge is the Food Safety and Inspection Service. It is called FSIS. It checks meat, poultry and eggs. FSIS put out the notice on Saturday, September 6, 2026.

FSIS says the meat may have listeria in it. Listeria is a germ. It can make people very sick.

Two firms are recalling the meat. One is Prime Line Distributors, Inc. It is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The other is Ferrarini USA, Inc. It is based in Hoboken, New Jersey.

The meat was made in Italy. The plant is named Bome SRL. The plant made the meat on May 21, 2026. It came into the United States in July 2026.

FSIS calls this a Class I recall. That is the top risk level. It means the food could cause bad illness or death. The recall number is 019-020-2026.

The Ferrarini meat went to eight states. Texas is one. The rest are California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and New York.

FSIS says that meat went to distributors and food service spots. Food service means places like restaurants and kitchens.

The Prime Line meat went to stores and food service spots in Florida. It did not go to Texas.

Here is what Valley readers should know. FSIS did not name a single Texas city. It did not name a store. It did not name a restaurant. Nothing in the notice ties this meat to the Rio Grande Valley.

FSIS says a store list will be posted if one is ready. As of now there is no list. So no one can say yet where in Texas the meat landed.

You can check the label. Every recalled pack has the same lot code. It reads LOT: 263311US. Every pack has the same date. It reads BEST IF USE BY DATE: 05.16.27. Some packs read BEST IF USE BY: 05.16.27.

Every pack also has a plant number. It reads IT 1937 L CE. It sits inside the Italian mark of inspection. On cases it is printed on the case label.

Four items are on the list. The weights vary.

From Prime Line, there are cardboard cases. Each case holds two pieces. Each piece is vacuum packed. The label reads PRIME LINE DISTRIBUTORS, INC. GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY.

Also from Prime Line, there are single vacuum packs. The label reads GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY. Those packs have a second label. It reads DOK GUANCIALE.

From Ferrarini, there are cardboard cases. Each case holds two vacuum packed pieces. The label reads GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY.

Also from Ferrarini, there are single vacuum packs. The label reads FERRARINI GUANCIALE DRY-CURED PORK JOWL.

FSIS found the problem during a routine check on imported meat. A sample of the meat tested positive for listeria.

No one has gotten sick, as far as FSIS knows. The agency says there are no confirmed reports of illness. Anyone worried about an illness should call a doctor.

Here is what listeria does. The germ can cause an illness called listeriosis. Most healthy people do not get very sick. Some people do.

Four groups face the most risk. Older adults are one. Adults over 65 are the main worry. People with weak immune systems are another. Pregnant women are a third. Their newborn babies are the fourth.

The signs can look like the flu. They include fever and sore muscles. They also include headache and a stiff neck. A person may get mixed up. A person may lose their balance. In bad cases there are seizures. Sometimes an upset stomach or diarrhea comes first.

In pregnant women the germ can be much worse. It can cause a miscarriage. It can cause a stillbirth. It can bring the baby too early. It can cause an illness in the newborn that can kill.

The germ can also kill older adults. It can kill people with weak immune systems. Doctors treat listeriosis with antibiotics.

Timing matters here. Signs can show up long after the meal. FSIS says at risk people who get flu like signs within two months should get care. Tell the doctor what you ate.

Here is what to do with the meat. Do not eat it. Restaurants should not serve it. Stores should not sell it. Throw it out or take it back to the store.

FSIS says the meat may still sit in fridges and freezers. That means at stores. That also means at restaurants.

You can call for help. The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline is toll free. The number is 888-674-6854. You can also email MPHotline@usda.gov.

You can report a bad food product online. The site is https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/. It is open all day and all night.

You can also call the firms. FSIS lists Liliana Rojas at Prime Line at 954-925-4500. It lists Luca Infantino at Ferrarini USA at 818-256-1622.