Nearly 1.6 million pounds of hot dogs, bacon, sausage, and other ready-to-eat meats have been recalled across the United States over concerns about unsafe storage temperatures.
According to ABC News, Massachusetts-based Kayem Foods Inc. voluntarily recalled approximately 1,584,361 pounds of meat and poultry products. The recall was announced in October 2026, after a cooling system malfunction raised concerns about food safety.
It’s a troubling recall for anyone who keeps packaged meats in their refrigerator. With so many familiar products involved, checking the labels before preparing a meal is especially important.
Products were distributed to stores and foodservice locations nationwide, with some also shipped to Hong Kong. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has classified the recall as Class I, its most serious warning level.
What meat products have been recalled?
Recalled hotdogs. Credit: fsis.usda.gov
Popular products such as Kayem Fenway Franks, Al Fresco Chicken Breakfast Sausage, and McKenzie Cob Smoked Bacon are among the affected items.
As Delish reported, the recall covers several brands and a wide selection of ready-to-eat meat products, including ham, sausage, brisket, bacon, and hot dogs.
Other examples include Kayem Double Smoked Thick Cut Bacon, Genoa Hot Ham, Al Fresco Roasted Pepper & Asiago Chicken Sausage, and Triple M Boneless Ham Steaks.
Affected products were manufactured between approximately March 31 and October 7, 2026.
Consumers can identify potentially recalled products by checking for these USDA establishment numbers:
However, an establishment number alone doesn’t confirm that a particular package is part of the recall.
For a complete breakdown, the USDA has published the recalled product labels and a separate list of affected products and UPC codes. It’s essential that these products and UPC codes are reviewed to ensure you don’t have unsafe items at home.
Why are these products being recalled?
The problem started with a customer complaint.
On October 1, a retail customer reported that meat products had arrived at unusually warm temperatures. Kayem Foods investigated and discovered that a malfunctioning cooling system had caused temperatures inside one of its warehouse coolers to fluctuate.
As Fox Business reported, the company corrected the malfunction and initiated the recall as a precaution.
Improper refrigeration can allow harmful bacteria to multiply, even when food looks and smells normal.
FoodSafety.gov recommends keeping refrigerators at 40°F or below, while freezers should remain at 0°F or below.
Fortunately, no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the recalled products.
What has Kayem Foods said about the recall?
Kayem Foods President and CEO Matt Monkiewicz acknowledged the company’s responsibility in a statement shared with ABC News.
“We take food safety very seriously and apologize to our valued consumers,” Monkiewicz said.
He added, “Our management team takes full responsibility. We have learned from and corrected the issue and will not allow this to happen again.”
Despite the absence of reported illnesses, the USDA’s Class I classification reflects the potentially serious health risks associated with consuming affected products.
What should you do if you have recalled meat?
Anyone who has purchased the affected products should avoid eating them.
FSIS recommends throwing recalled products away or returning them to the place of purchase.
I’d also suggest checking your freezer, especially if you regularly stock up on hot dogs, bacon, or packaged sausage.
Consumers who believe they’ve become ill after eating recalled meat should contact a healthcare provider.
For additional information, Kayem Foods can be reached at 800-426-6100 or info@kayem.com.
You can also contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 with questions about food safety.
Related Headlines
