Quick answer: As of Oct. 23, 2026, Kayem Foods is recalling about 1.58 million pounds of ready-to-eat hot dogs, bacon, sausages, ham, turkey and deli meats. The USDA rates it Class I, its highest risk level.
Check your package for EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A or EST. M 9520 inside the USDA mark. If it matches a recalled item, don’t eat it. No illnesses had been confirmed when the USDA announced the recall on Oct. 17.
How to tell if your package is recalled
- Find the USDA mark of inspection. It is the round seal on the package. The establishment number is printed inside it.
- Match the number. Recalled items carry EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A or EST. M 9520.
- Check the brand. The recall covers products sold as Al Fresco, Deutschmacher, Essem, Jordan’s, Kayem, McKenzie, Triple M and Winnisimmet St. Butchery. Some reports also list Genoa.
- Compare the product name, UPC and lot code with the official list on the USDA or Kayem website. Not every product from these brands is included.
- Still not sure? Call Kayem at 800-426-6100, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern.
The recall at a glance
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Company | Kayem Foods Inc., Chelsea, Mass. |
| Amount | About 1,584,361 pounds |
| Risk level | Class I, the USDA’s highest |
| Reason | Possible “temperature abuse” during storage |
| Production dates | About March 31 to Oct. 7, 2026 (USDA) |
| Stored and shipped | June 7 to Oct. 14, 2026 (Kayem) |
| Where sold | Retail and food-service locations nationwide, plus Hong Kong |
| Illnesses | None confirmed as of Oct. 17 |
| Questions | Kayem: 800-426-6100 or info@kayem.com. USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline: 888-674-6854 |
Which brands and products are included
Kayem says the recall covers some of its fully cooked meat and poultry products. Its full list runs about nine pages, according to Fox Business.
Products named in the USDA notice and news reports include:
- Hot dogs and franks: Kayem Beef & Pork Hot Dogs and other beef, lower-sodium, skinless and red franks. CBS Boston reported that Fenway Franks are among them.
- Bacon: Kayem Double Smoked Thick Cut Bacon, plus applewood-smoked, maple and slab bacon.
- Chicken sausage: several flavors, including Al Fresco Roasted Pepper & Asiago.
- Ham: honey, black forest, tavern and smoked ham, Triple M Boneless Ham Steaks and Genoa Hot Ham.
- Turkey: oven-roasted, smoked, maple-honey and hickory-smoked turkey breast.
- Other meats: Kayem Slow Smoked Beef Brisket, kielbasa, bratwurst, bologna, liverwurst, corned beef, meatballs, breakfast patties and meat loaves.
A brand name alone does not mean your package is recalled. The establishment number, UPC and lot code decide it.
Where the products were sold
The USDA says the products went to retail and food-service locations nationwide. Food-service customers are businesses such as restaurants and cafeterias. Some products were also shipped to Hong Kong.
Walmart said affected items were sold at select stores in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, AARP reported. Market Basket also posted a recall notice.
The USDA said it plans to post retail distribution lists. Those lists show which stores received the products. Check the FSIS recall page in the coming days.
Kayem recall timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2026 | Earliest production date of affected items, per the USDA |
| June 7, 2026 | Start of the window when affected items were stored and shipped, per Kayem |
| Oct. 1, 2026 | A retail customer reports that products arrived warm |
| Oct. 7, 2026 | Latest production date of affected items |
| Oct. 14, 2026 | End of the storage and shipping window |
| Oct. 16, 2026 | Kayem announces a voluntary recall |
| Oct. 17, 2026 | The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announces the Class I recall |
| By Oct. 19, 2026 | Walmart and Market Basket post store recall notices |
What “temperature abuse” means
After the Oct. 1 complaint, Kayem found that ready-to-eat items had been kept in a warehouse cooler with temperature deviations. The company blames a cooling system malfunction.
The USDA says bacteria grow fastest between 40°F and 140°F, a range it calls the “danger zone.” Cold cuts and hot dogs are meant to stay at 40°F or below.
When a cooler fails, food can sit in that range long enough for germs to multiply. You usually cannot see or smell the problem. That is why the USDA’s advice is simple: don’t eat it.
Kayem says the cooling problem has been fixed and calls the recall precautionary. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are undertaking this voluntary recall,” CEO Matt Monkiewicz said, according to CBS Boston. “Our management team takes full responsibility.”
What to do if you have a recalled product
- Don’t eat it, even if it looks and smells fine.
- Check your freezer too. Hot dogs, bacon and sausages are often frozen for later.
- Throw it away in a sealed bag, or return it to the store where you bought it.
- Ask the store about a refund. Bring the package or your receipt if you still have it.
- Wipe the shelf or drawer where it was stored with hot, soapy water.
Restaurants, cafeterias and other food-service buyers should check their stock the same way. Kayem says it is contacting its wholesale and retail customers directly.
What if you already ate it?
No illnesses had been confirmed as of the Oct. 17 announcement. Still, watch for common food poisoning symptoms. The CDC lists an upset stomach, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever.
The CDC says to see a doctor if you have:
- A fever over 102°F
- Diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days
- Bloody diarrhea
- Vomiting so often that you cannot keep liquids down
- Signs of dehydration, such as little or no urine, very dark urine or strong thirst
Some people face higher risk: adults 65 and older, children under 5, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Tell your doctor what you ate and when. This is general information, not medical advice.
Also read: Power outage checklist: what to do and what to throw out, for the same food-safety rules at home.
Who to contact
| You need | Contact |
|---|---|
| To check if your product is recalled | Kayem Customer Service: 800-426-6100, Mon.–Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, or info@kayem.com |
| Food safety answers | USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline: 888-674-6854 |
| The full list with UPCs | The USDA FSIS recall page and Kayem’s recall page |
| Help for symptoms | Your doctor or health care provider |
Is Kayem food safe to buy now?
Products that are not on the recall list are not part of this recall. Kayem says the warehouse cooling problem has been corrected.
This is not Kayem’s first recall. In 2025, the company recalled more than 24,000 pounds of chicken sausage that may have contained pieces of plastic, CBS Boston reported.
When you shop, look at the establishment number and the package date. If you are unsure about a product already in your fridge, the safest choice is to toss it.
What happens next
- Store lists: the USDA plans to post retail distribution lists showing where products were sold.
- More store notices: grocers that carried the products may post their own recall signs and online notices.
- Possible updates: the product list or dates can change. We will update this page if they do.
- Products in home freezers: the USDA is concerned that recalled items may still be in people’s refrigerators and freezers for weeks.
Recommended products
Keep your own fridge out of the danger zone.
- Refrigerator and freezer thermometer
- Instant-read meat thermometer
- Insulated grocery bag for the drive home
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Nexgen Headlines earns from qualifying purchases.
FAQ
Which Kayem products are recalled?
About 1.58 million pounds of ready-to-eat hot dogs, bacon, sausages, ham, turkey and deli meats. Check the establishment number, UPC and lot code against the official list.
Are Al Fresco chicken sausages recalled?
Some are, including Al Fresco Roasted Pepper & Asiago. Not every Al Fresco product is included, so match the UPC and lot code on your package.
Were recalled Kayem products sold at Walmart?
Yes. Walmart said select stores in eight Northeast states carried affected items: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Can I get my money back?
The USDA says you can return recalled items to the place of purchase. Ask the store about a refund, and call Kayem at 800-426-6100 with questions.
Has anyone gotten sick?
No illnesses had been confirmed as of the USDA’s Oct. 17 announcement. If you feel sick after eating a recalled product, contact a health care provider.
Bottom line
Take one minute and check your fridge and freezer. Look for EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A or EST. M 9520 inside the USDA mark, then match the UPC and lot code. If it matches, throw it out or take it back for a refund.
Last reviewed: Oct. 23, 2026. This is a developing story. We update it when the USDA posts store lists or the recall changes.
Sources: USDA FSIS recall notice, Kayem Foods, CBS Boston, Fox Business, AARP, CDC, USDA danger zone guidance.
