Before you pack another lunch or fire up the grill for game day, take a peek inside your fridge. More than 1.5 million pounds of hot dogs, bacon, deli meat, sausages and more are being pulled from store shelves nationwide, and some of the brands involved are ones a lot of us buy without a second thought.

Kayem Foods Inc. of Chelsea, Massachusetts, is recalling roughly 1,584,361 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products because they may have been stored at unsafe temperatures. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the recall on Saturday, October 17, and gave it a Class I rating. That is the most serious level the agency uses.

hands holding hot dogs in grocery store
Photo: iStock

The Quick Facts

  • What: Hot dogs, bacon, deli meats, sausages, brisket, meatballs and other ready-to-eat products
  • How much: About 1.58 million pounds
  • Brands: Kayem, Al Fresco, McKenzie, Triple M, Deutschmacher, Jordan’s, Essem and Winnisimmet St.
  • Made: Approximately March 31, 2026, through October 7, 2026
  • Sold: Nationwide in the U.S. (plus Hong Kong)
  • Why: Products may have gotten too warm in storage

What Went Wrong

It all started with a warm delivery. On October 1, a retail customer told Kayem that products had arrived feeling warmer than they should. The company dug into it and found that a warehouse cooler holding a wide range of its ready-to-eat meats hadn’t been keeping a steady cold temperature.

Why does that matter so much? Meats like these are meant to stay cold from the plant to your plate. When perishable food sits between 40°F and 140°F (often called the “danger zone”), bacteria can multiply quickly. Food safety officials call that “temperature abuse,” and it’s the reason for this recall. According to the official FSIS recall notice, no illnesses have been confirmed so far.

Which Products Are Included

This isn’t just one item. Dozens of products made over a span of more than six months are part of the recall, including:

  • Hot dogs and franks: hot dogs, cocktail franks, kielbasa and bratwurst
  • Deli meats: ham, turkey breast, bologna, corned beef and liverwurst
  • Breakfast and more: bacon, brisket, ham steaks, flavored chicken sausages and meatballs
Photo: iStock

To figure out whether your package is affected, flip it over and look for the USDA mark of inspection. Recalled products carry one of these establishment numbers inside that mark:

  • EST. M/P 7839
  • EST. P 20935A
  • EST. M 9520

The full list, complete with UPC codes and product label photos, is posted on the FSIS recall page. It’s worth a look, especially if you keep a stash of hot dogs or bacon in the freezer.

Where Was It Sold?

These products went out to grocery stores and foodservice locations all across the country. Specific stores and states haven’t been named yet, but FSIS typically posts retail distribution lists on its recalls page once they’re available.

Because foodservice locations are included, these meats may also have ended up in deli sandwiches, party trays or catered meals. If you’ve picked up something like that recently, it’s perfectly fine to ask the store or caterer whether any Kayem products were used.

Photo: iStock

What To Do If You Have It

  • Don’t eat it. Even if it looks and smells fine, it’s not worth the risk.
  • Check the fridge and the freezer. Hot dogs, bacon and sausages are easy to forget in the back of the freezer.
  • Toss it or take it back. Throw the product away or return it to the store where you bought it.
  • Snap a photo first. A quick picture of the label and establishment number is handy if you need it later.
  • Got questions? Call Kayem Foods Customer Service at 800-426-6100 (Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET) or email info@kayem.com.
  • Need food safety advice? The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline is available at 888-674-6854 or MPHotline@usda.gov.
  • Want to report a problem? You can file a report online at foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

Worried You Already Ate Some?

Try not to panic. No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall. That said, if you’ve eaten one of these products and aren’t feeling well, or you simply have concerns, give your doctor or healthcare provider a call. Pay extra attention if the person who ate it is pregnant, elderly, very young or has a weakened immune system.

Know someone who loves a good hot dog or a BLT? Pass this along so they can check their fridge, too.