Kayem Pulls 1.58 Million Pounds of Franks, Bacon and Deli Meats in Top-Level Nationwide Recall
On October 17, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that Kayem Foods Inc. of Chelsea, Massachusetts, is recalling approximately 1,584,361 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. According to CBS News, Food Safety News and KCRA, the recall covers hot dogs, bacon, ham, turkey breast, sausages and other items shipped to retailers and food service locations nationwide and to Hong Kong.
The problem surfaced on October 1, when a retail customer complained that products felt warm at delivery, QZ, Medical Daily and HealthDay reported. Kayem investigated and traced the issue to a warehouse cooler holding ready-to-eat items that had drifted out of proper temperature range, a condition regulators describe as potential temperature abuse. Products covered by the recall were produced between March 31 and October 7, 2026, according to Food Safety News and WFLA, while CBS News, citing the company, reported the affected foods were stored and shipped between June 7 and October 14, 2026. In a company statement, Kayem President and CEO Matt Monkiewicz said the business depends on providing safe food of the highest quality and that the company was acting out of an abundance of caution.
WGCU, NewsNation and QZ reported that FSIS designated the action a Class I recall, its highest-risk category, meaning there is a reasonable probability that exposure could cause serious adverse health consequences or death. The agency warned that some products have a long shelf life and may still be sitting in home refrigerators or freezers, which is why it issued a nationwide alert under recall number 026-2026.
The recall spans more than 100 items across brands including Kayem, Al Fresco, Triple M, McKenzie, Deutschmacher, Jordan's, Essem and Winnisimmet, HealthDay reported. Recognizable products named by Delish and CBS News include Kayem Old Tyme Beef and Pork Franks, Kayem Fenway Franks, Genoa Hot Ham, Al Fresco Chicken Breakfast Sausage and McKenzie Cob Smoked Bacon, alongside bologna, kielbasa, bratwurst, beef brisket, corned beef, ham steaks, chicken sausage, turkey breast and liverwurst. Allrecipes noted that FSIS published a nine-page product list with UPC codes, lot numbers and expiration dates. Shoppers can identify affected packs by the establishment numbers EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A or EST. M 9520 printed inside the USDA mark of inspection, according to CBS News and Good Housekeeping.
No illnesses had been reported at the time of the announcement, Health.com and NewsNation reported. FSIS urges anyone holding the products not to eat them: throw them away or return them to the place of purchase, and contact a health care provider with any illness concerns. USA Today reported that questions can go to Kayem Foods Customer Service at 1-800-426-6100, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, or by email to [email protected].