The American meat manufacturer Kayem Foods Inc. is recalling approximately 1.58 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products in Massachusetts, due to concerns about food safety risks caused by inadequate temperature maintenance during storage in warehouses.
This recall involves around 1,584,361 pounds (about 718 metric tons) of products, including hot dogs, bacon, sausages, turkey breast, ham, and other ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. The products were produced between March 31 and October 7, 2026, and have been distributed to retailers, food service providers, and Hong Kong.
The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this recall on October 17, 2026.
The issue started on October 1 when a retail customer complained about receiving products with temperatures that were too high. Kayem Foods conducted an investigation and found that some ready-to-eat meat and poultry products had been stored in warehouse cold storage rooms where temperatures had fluctuated abnormally, potentially affecting food safety.
The FSIS classified this recall as a Class I recall, the highest risk level, indicating that consuming the affected products could lead to serious health consequences, including death. However, there have been no reports of illnesses linked to the consumption of these products so far.
The recall covers products of various brands and weights. Consumers can check the production facility code found within the USDA inspection mark on the packaging to determine if their products are included in the recall. Related codes include “EST. M/P 7839,” “EST. P 20935A,” and “EST. M 9520.”
Consumers can refer to the product label list and the complete recall product list published by FSIS to verify product names, packaging information, and UPC barcodes.
FSIS advises consumers who have purchased these products not to consume them but to either discard them or return them to the place of purchase. Improper temperature control can increase the risk of microbial growth, which means that even if the food looks and smells normal, consumers should not rely solely on appearance to judge safety.
If consumers have any questions, they can contact Kayem Foods customer service at 800-426-6100 from 7:30 AM to 4 PM Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, or email info@kayem.com for inquiries.
Melissa Vaccaro, a senior food safety expert at the National Environmental Health Association, previously pointed out in an NBC News guide to food safety during a power outage that even if food looks and smells normal, it may contain pathogenic microorganisms that could pose health risks. Consumers should not rely solely on taste or smell to determine the safety of food.
(Information sourced from the FSIS announcement and relevant reports from NBC News.)