Is Neese's Country Sausage gone for good?
It’s been at least six months since Charlotteans have had a taste of Neese’s Country Sausage’s fan-favorite livermush — or its other products, for that matter.
Back in December, supplies had dwindled to nothing, and lifelong customers all over North Carolina began to wonder aloud if they’d ever get Neese’s back on their breakfast plates again.
Restaurants and grocery stores reported hearing word at the time that Neese’s products would return in the spring, after remediation at its Greensboro production facility to correct conditions that led to positive listeria tests on its livermush production line.
But, so far, that hasn’t happened.
Instead, things seem to be heading in the opposite direction for the family-owned business that’s been feeding folks since 1917.
Here’s what we know:
- The Neese’s Country Sausage webpage is down, returning a “404 unknown site” error to those who navigate there.
- Neese’s Country Sausage facility in Charlotte — located at 2604 N. Davidson St. — is listed as permanently closed on Google. The phone number listed for the facility rings unanswered.
- The phone also rings unanswered at Neese’s main production facility, located at 1452 Alamance Church Road in Greensboro. Google Directions notes: “This place may be closed.”
- CBS station WFMY News 2 in Greensboro reported spending two weeks trying to get answers, noting that employees are still on site and that owner Tommy Neese III said he planned to respond to questions by Friday, May 8.
A message to Neese sent Friday was not immediately returned.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said Friday that the company is “not requesting inspection at this time.” Safety inspectors are mandated to visit weekly, according to U.S.D.A. FSIS training manuals.
Why Neese’s livermush production halted
Positive tests for listeria were found at Neese’s Country Sausage’s Greensboro facility on Sept. 3, 2025, on a stainless steel table in two other areas described as the “bottom boot” and “pudding line floor under sink,” according to a USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service letter that CharlotteFive under the federal Freedom of Information Act.
Listeria monocytogenes is a rare but serious foodborne bacteria. It’s a public health concern, especially to high-risk populations including pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
However, USDA testing first detected listeria at the Neese’s facility on Sept. 08, 2024. “At the time, it was the first entry for the establishment,” the letter said.
“Despite all the results, there is no record that the establishment reassessed their written HACCP [Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points] program. The last documented Fully Cooked Not Shelf Stable HACCP plan reassessment is dated August 2, 2024,” the letter said.
A December statement to CharlotteFive from Neese said: “Neese Country Sausage company’s priority is the safety of the food products our customers have loved for over 100 years. Earlier this Fall, our product safety monitoring program detected one ready to eat product (C-Loaf) that contained listeria. We immediately halted production, held all ready to eat products from commerce and notified the USDA. We are cooperating with the USDA and are utilizing independent food safety experts to resolve this issue and are working diligently to return these products to your local stores and markets. Sincerely, Thomas R. Neese, III.”
