US meat producer Kayem Foods has recalled more than 1.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products after discovering that a warehouse cooling system malfunction may have exposed the food to unsafe storage temperatures.
The recall, announced by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on October 17, covers products including hot dogs, sausages, bacon, ham, turkey breast, bologna, corned beef and beef brisket.
Kayem, a Chelsea, Massachusetts-based company known for its Fenway Franks, said the affected products were stored and shipped between June 7 and October 14, 2026. They were distributed to retailers and food service outlets across the United States and Hong Kong.
The issue came to light after a retail customer complained on October 1 about products arriving at unusually warm temperatures. An investigation traced the problem to a warehouse cooler that experienced temperature fluctuations because of a cooling system malfunction.
Kayem Foods President and CEO Matt Monkiewicz said the company was conducting the recall as a precaution.
“Our business depends on providing consumers with safe food of the highest quality,” he said.
He also apologised to consumers, adding that the company had taken responsibility and corrected the problem.
The USDA said no confirmed illnesses had been linked to the recalled products, but warned that some items could still be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.
Consumers are advised not to eat affected products. They should discard them or return them to the place of purchase.
Shoppers can identify recalled items using product names, package labels, lot information and UPC codes listed in the official recall notice. The products carry establishment numbers EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A or EST. M 9520 within the USDA inspection mark.
