- Kayem Foods recalled 1.58M pounds of ready-to-eat meat products on October 17 due to temperature abuse during storage, affecting hot dogs, bacon, deli meats, and sausages sold nationwide and in Hong Kong.
- The contamination was discovered when a customer reported warm products on October 1, tracing back to inconsistent warehouse cooler temperatures affecting items produced March 31–October 7, 2026.
- No illnesses have been reported; consumers should check UPC numbers and establishment numbers EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A, or EST. M 9520, then discard products or return them to retailers.
On October 17, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Kayem Foods Inc. of Chelsea, MA, is conducting a massive recall of 1,584,361 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. The products are being recalled because of “temperature abuse”—meaning that they were stored at a warmer temperature than required, and therefore could be unsafe to eat.
The recall involves many different types of food, including hot dogs, bacon, deli meats—ham, turkey, corned beef, liverwurst, and bologna—as well as meatballs, ham steak, brisket, chicken sausage, bratwurst, and kielbasa. The recalled products were produced under a variety of brand names, including Kayem Old Tyme and Fenway Franks. The products are estimated to have been produced from March 31, 2026, to October 7, 2026, and were shipped to retail locations nationwide, as well as Hong Kong.
The FSIS reports that on October 1, a customer at a retail location reported that a delivery of products was too warm, and the problem was traced back to a warehouse cooler that had inconsistent temperatures.
Although the FSIS has classified this as a Level I recall, it says there have been no reports of illnesses linked to any of the recalled food so far.
How to tell which products have been recalled
There are a few steps to take:
- First, check any ready-to-eat meat or poultry you have against this recalled product list, which includes UPC numbers.
- Next, inspect any products you have on hand for these recalled product labels.
- Finally, double-check the establishment number on any product you have. You’re looking specifically for establishment numbers: EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A, and EST. M 9520 inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product packaging.
What to do if you have the recalled products
Don’t eat them. If you’ve already consumed any of the recalled products and you feel sick, contact your health care provider right away.
You can throw away any of the recalled products, or bring them back to the store where you purchased them. If you have questions about the recall, contact Kayem Foods customer service between Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. EST at 800-426-6100, or email the company at [email protected].
