Kayem Recalls 1.58 Million Pounds of Meat Over Storage Issue

Consumers across the United States are being warned not to eat certain ready-to-eat meat and poultry products after Kayem Foods Inc. recalled approximately 1,584,361 pounds of food linked to a warehouse cooling malfunction. The recall, announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), covers products distributed nationwide and to Hong Kong because improper storage temperatures may have compromised their safety.

The FSIS assigned the recall its highest risk classification, indicating a reasonable probability that consuming the affected products could cause serious health consequences or death. As of the agencies' announcements, no confirmed illnesses had been linked to the recalled items.

The affected products include hot dogs, bacon, bratwurst, bologna, beef brisket, corned beef, ham, kielbasa, liverwurst, and chicken sausage. Products sold under brands including Kayem, Al Fresco, McKenzie, Triple M, Deutschmacher, and Jordan's are among those covered by the recall, according to the published notices.

The products were manufactured between March 31 and Oct. 7, 2026, according to the FSIS. Kayem reported that the affected items were stored and shipped between June 7 and Oct. 14, 2026, and may carry expiration dates ranging from May 2026 through February 2027.

Consumers can identify affected products by checking the establishment numbers printed inside the USDA mark of inspection on their packaging: EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A, or EST.

M 9520. The company and federal agency have published detailed product lists to help customers identify specific recalled items.

The problem came to light after a retail customer complained on Oct. 1, 2026, about products arriving at delivery with unusually warm temperatures. The FSIS said Kayem investigated the complaint and found that various ready-to-eat meat and poultry products had been stored in a warehouse cooler that experienced temperature deviations.

Kayem attributed the storage problem to a malfunction in the warehouse cooling system. The company said it had corrected the issue and launched the voluntary recall as a precaution.

Matt Monkiewicz, president and CEO of Kayem Foods, acknowledged the company's responsibility and apologized to customers in a statement addressing the incident.

"We take food safety very seriously and apologize to our valued consumers. Our management team takes full responsibility. We have learned from and corrected the issue and will not allow this to happen again," said Monkiewicz, president and CEO of Kayem Foods.

The company also said it was contacting wholesale and retail customers directly to provide instructions for identifying and disposing of affected products. Its recall announcement followed the discovery that items potentially exposed to unsafe storage temperatures had entered distribution channels.

The FSIS warned that some recalled products could still be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. Anyone who purchased an affected item should not eat it and should either discard it or return it to the retailer where it was purchased.

Federal food safety guidance emphasizes that meat should be refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below or kept frozen at 0 degrees Fahrenheit to limit the risk of foodborne illness. Consumers concerned about possible illness after eating a recalled product should contact a healthcare provider.

Customers can contact Kayem Foods at 800-426-6100 or [email protected]. The USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline is also available at 888-674-6854, and food safety questions can be sent to [email protected].