Food and Drink

Catching up on Neese's livermush dilemma? Here's what you need to know.

Stories by Charlotte Observer journalists, with AI summarization

Talk of the town recently has been the unavailability of Neese's livermush in Charlotte. Neese's Country Sausage faced a partial suspension at their Greensboro facility, impacting livermush and liver pudding supply. The USDA issued a Notice of Suspension after finding listeria control issues, but didn't completely halt production. Stores struggle to keep shelves stocked with livermush, leading customers to seek alternatives. Restaurant owners express optimism about Neese's returning soon.

In Charlotte, locals lament the missing staple, sharing stories of livermush menus in traditional eateries. Amidst the shortage, customers seek out similar options to fill the void. A Charlotte foodie tried the dish and noted its unique place in breakfast gatherings.

Tryon House restaurant used to serve Neese’s brand livermush, but now the 26-year-old Charlotte restaurant sources its livermush from Sysco. Shown above is its breakfast platter, with two eggs, livermush, home fries and toast. By Heidi Finley

NO. 1: NEESE’S LIVERMUSH LOVERS ARE HANGING IN LIMBO. WHY HAVE CHARLOTTE SHELVES BEEN BARE?

Long a staple of North Carolina culinary traditions, you’ll find livermush on menus at mom-and-pop restaurants around the state. | Published December 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

CharlotteFive’s Heidi Finley holds up a Tryon House Restaurant breakfast platter with livermush before trying the North Carolina specialty for the first time.

NO. 2: I TRIED LIVERMUSH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CHARLOTTE — AND THIS IS WHAT I FOUND

Livermush is a hot topic in Charlotte at the moment. | Published December 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Weirdest regional food speciality – Charlotte: Livermush By Chris Seward

NO. 3: USDA FOOD INSPECTORS PARTIALLY SUSPENDED NC PRODUCTION AT NEESE’S IN SEPTEMBER

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has suspended production at a “specific portion” of North Carolina-based Neese’s Country Sausage, a spokesman told CharlotteFive on Thursday. | Published December 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.