The Recall Desk
Agency classPublic Health AlertOur severity:HighUSDA FSIS·PHA-12022024-01·Announced 2024-12-02

USDA Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Imported Pork Mortadella

USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for frozen pork mortadella illegally imported from Ecuador. Consumers should discard the product as it lacks required inspection marks.

The agency’s classification

USDA FSIS: Public Health Alert

Public Health Alert is a warning FSIS issues when there is a food-safety concern but a recall is not requested, typically because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.

This is the agency’s own classification, taken from its notice. The severity score below is our assessment, not the agency’s. How recall classes work

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a high-risk pathogen context (ready-to-eat pork) and an import violation where the product lacks required inspection marks, fitting the rubric for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on December 2, 2024, for frozen ready-to-eat pork mortadella products. The specific product identified is 1-lb. vacuum-sealed packages containing “Mortadela ESPECIAL BOLOGNIA.” These products were illegally imported from Ecuador, a country ineligible to export meat and poultry products to the United States.

The affected products do not bear an establishment number or the USDA mark of inspection. FSIS discovered the issue during surveillance activities at a warehouse. The products were shipped to retail and distributor locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. FSIS is continuing to investigate the origins of the product and notes that additional products may be affected.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. The products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

The recalled product

Product
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Pork Products Imported From Ecuador
Category
Food — Deli / Ready-to-Eat
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed in 1 state:

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