Kayem Foods Recall: Which Meat Products Are Affected and What Should Consumers Do?

Kayem Foods Inc. is recalling approximately 1.58 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products after a warehouse cooling system malfunction raised concerns that the products may have been stored at unsafe temperatures.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the Class I recall on Oct. 17, 2026, advising consumers not to eat the affected products.

The recall covers products manufactured between March 31 and Oct. 7, 2026, and distributed to retail and foodservice locations across the U.S. and Hong Kong. No confirmed illnesses linked to the recalled products had been reported when the notice was issued, but affected items may still be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.

Which Meat Products Are Affected?

The recall includes ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold under several brands, including Kayem, Al Fresco, McKenzie and Triple M. Affected product categories include hot dogs, bacon, sausages, turkey breasts, ham and other ready-to-eat meat products.

Not every product sold under these brands is affected. Consumers should check the exact product name, package label, Universal Product Code (UPC), and lot code against the official recall list.

The affected products carry one of three establishment numbers inside the USDA inspection mark: “EST. M/P 7839, “EST. P 20935A” or “EST. M 9520.” These numbers can help identify potentially affected items, but consumers should verify the complete product details against the recall list.

The issue came to light after Kayem Foods received a retail customer complaint on Oct. 1 about products arriving at their destination at elevated temperatures. The company’s investigation found that a warehouse cooler had experienced temperature deviations while storing ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.

Consumers can consult the official USDA recall notice for the affected product labels and UPCs.

Why Is the Recall a Food Safety Concern?

Ready-to-eat meat products are intended to be consumed without further cooking. If stored at improper temperatures, these products may allow harmful microorganisms to grow, potentially increasing the risk of foodborne illness.

The FSIS classified the recall as Class I, its highest-risk category. This designation indicates a reasonable probability that consuming the affected products could cause serious adverse health consequences or death. It reflects the potential severity of the hazard, not confirmation that illnesses have occurred.

Kayem Foods announced the voluntary recall on Oct. 16 and said it was working with the USDA. The company also said it was contacting retail and wholesale customers to help identify and remove affected products from circulation.

What Should Consumers Do?

Consumers who have purchased potentially affected products should check their refrigerators and freezers against the official recall list. Anyone who finds a matching product should not eat it, even if the packaging appears intact or the food looks and smells normal.

The FSIS advises consumers to throw away recalled products or return them to the place of purchase. Consumers should also clean any surfaces, utensils or containers that may have come into contact with the affected food.

Anyone concerned about illness after consuming a recalled product should contact a health care provider.

Consumers with questions can contact Kayem Foods customer service at 800-426-6100 or email info@kayem.com. Customer service is available Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

For food safety questions, consumers can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854. Consumers should verify product details against the official USDA recall notice or Kayem Foods’ recall announcement before deciding whether a package is affected.