Making carbonara or stocking a deli case? Check guanciale lot 263311US before using it

A guanciale recall is not always obvious to the person eating the final dish. Once guanciale is diced into pasta sauce, sliced onto a board or used by a restaurant kitchen, the original label can disappear from view.

That is why the useful action comes before cooking: check the package, case label or stored inventory before using it.

The key details to match are LOT 263311US and the best-if-used-by date 05.16.27.

The recalled products are imported ready-to-eat dry-cured pork jowl products, sold as guanciale. The recall involves both Prime Line Distributors Inc. and Ferrarini USA Inc.

The affected products include various-weight cardboard cases and individually vacuum-packed packages. Some Prime Line product is described as GUANCIALE PORK JOWL PRODUCT OF ITALY, and one version carries an additional DOK GUANCIALE label.

Ferrarini product includes individually vacuum-packed FERRARINI GUANCIALE DRY-CURED PORK JOWL.

Every product listed in the recall carries the same lot code: 263311US.

The date appears as BEST IF USE BY DATE: 05.16.27, BEST IF USE BY: 05.16.27, or equivalent wording on the label. In plain date format, that is May 16, 2027.

If the product does not match the lot and date, it may not be part of this recall. If the label is missing or unclear in a food service setting, do not guess.

The recalled products bear establishment number IT 1937 L CE inside the Italian mark of inspection or printed on the case label.

This detail helps identify the imported product and can be useful when checking cases, vacuum-packed pieces or food-service inventory.

For restaurants, distributors and retailers, the safest check is to match all available details: product description, lot code, best-if-used-by date and inspection mark.

Prime Line Distributors items were shipped to food service and retail locations in Florida.

Ferrarini USA items were shipped to distributors and food service locations in California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas.

Because guanciale is often used as an ingredient, the recall may matter most to restaurants, delis, specialty stores, distributors and food-service kitchens.

The recall reason is possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. This matters because guanciale is ready-to-eat and may be served or handled without a final cooking step, depending on the dish or kitchen practice.

Food contaminated with Listeria may not look, smell or taste spoiled. Symptoms of infection can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, severe headache, neck stiffness and other flu-like symptoms.

The risk is especially serious for pregnant people, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

The problem was discovered during routine import reinspection testing, when a product sample confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled products were produced in Italy on May 21, 2026 and imported into the United States on various dates in July 2026.

No confirmed illnesses had been reported due to consumption of these products at the time of the recall.

Restaurants, retailers and distributors should pull any recalled product marked LOT 263311US with a best-if-used-by date of 05.16.27.

The product should not be sold, served or used. It should be discarded or returned according to recall instructions.

Because guanciale can be stored for months, it is important to check coolers, freezers, deli cases, opened inventory and back-of-house storage.

If the product was already used, the label may no longer be connected to the meal. That is why record checks, purchase invoices and kitchen inventory logs can matter for food service operations.

Anyone concerned about possible illness should contact a healthcare provider. People in higher-risk groups should be especially alert to flu-like symptoms after possible exposure.

This article cannot diagnose illness, but it can make the recall action clear: stop using the affected lot.

For questions about Prime Line product, the contact listed is Liliana Rojas, QA/QC manager, at 954-925-4500.

For questions about Ferrarini product, the contact listed is Luca Infantino, chief financial officer, at 818-256-1622.

Anyone with food safety questions may also contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline.

Check imported ready-to-eat guanciale for LOT 263311US and BEST IF USED BY 05.16.27. Also look for establishment number IT 1937 L CE on the Italian mark of inspection or case label.

The recall involves approximately 1,513 pounds of dry-cured pork jowl products from Prime Line Distributors Inc. and Ferrarini USA Inc. because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

If the product matches, do not sell, serve or use it. Pull it from storage and discard or return it.