Kayem Foods Issues Massive Recall for 1.5 Million Pounds of Meat Products

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — Consumers are being urged to check their refrigerators following a major recall issued by Kayem Foods Inc. on October 17. The company is pulling more than 1.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from shelves due to concerns regarding improper storage temperatures.

The recall was initiated after a retail customer reported receiving products at warm temperatures on October 1. A subsequent investigation by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) revealed that the items were stored in a warehouse cooler with inconsistent temperature controls, potentially allowing for bacterial growth.

Affected items include a variety of deli meats, bacon, hot dogs, chicken sausage, and corned beef. These products were manufactured between March 31 and October 7 and were distributed to retailers across the United States and in Hong Kong.

To identify if a product is part of the recall, shoppers should look for the USDA inspection seal containing establishment numbers “EST. M/P 7839,” EST. P 20935A, or EST. M 9520. The FSIS emphasizes that consumers should not eat these products, as they may pose a risk of food poisoning or other illnesses.

Experts warn that visual inspection, smell, or taste cannot reliably detect dangerous microorganisms. Melissa Vaccaro, a senior food safety program specialist at the National Environmental Health Association, noted that food can harbor disease-causing bacteria even when it appears perfectly normal.

If you have purchased any of the recalled items, you should discard them immediately or return them to the place of purchase. For further assistance, Kayem Foods customer service can be reached at 800-426-6100 or via email at [email protected] between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)