Widespread Recall Targets Hot Dogs and Bacon

WHO:

Newser - Kayem Foods is recalling the affected ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.

Newser - The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) classified the recall as Class I, its most serious recall tier.

Newser - Melissa Vaccaro of the National Environmental Health Association warned that consumers cannot reliably determine food safety by looking at, smelling, or tasting food.

NBC News - The article reports that more than 1.5 million pounds of bacon and other meat were recalled.

WHAT:

Newser - Kayem Foods recalled roughly 1.6 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry, including hot dogs, bacon, brisket, ham, and chicken sausage.

Newser - The FSIS cited a “reasonable probability” of “serious, adverse health consequences or death” for people who consume the products.

Newser - No illnesses had been reported.

Newser - Consumers were urged to throw away or return affected products.

Newser - Vaccaro said food may contain disease-causing microorganisms without looking or smelling spoiled and advised consumers never to taste questionable food to determine whether it is safe.

NBC News - Its article describes a recall involving more than 1.5 million pounds of bacon and other meat.

WHERE:

Newser - The recalled products were shipped nationwide and to Hong Kong.

Newser - The products bear one of these USDA inspection-mark establishment numbers: EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A, or EST. M 9520.

WHY:

Newser - A warehouse cooling failure led to what federal officials described as possible “temperature abuse.”

Newser - The issue was detected after a retail customer complained about warm product temperatures; Kayem Foods then investigated.

HOW:

Newser - The affected products were produced between March 31 and Oct. 7.

Newser - The article states that cooking meat to the proper temperature does not guarantee that it is safe.

Newser - Consumers can identify affected products by checking the establishment number in the USDA inspection mark.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 16:19 UTC)

Kayem Foods is recalling roughly 1.6 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry after a warehouse cooling failure may have exposed products to unsafe temperatures. The recall includes hot dogs, bacon, brisket, ham, and chicken sausage, produced between March 31 and Oct. 7. The products were shipped across the United States and to Hong Kong. Federal inspectors classified the recall as Class I, their most serious level, citing a reasonable probability of serious health consequences or death. No illnesses had been reported. Consumers can check the USDA inspection mark for establishment numbers EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A, or EST. M 9520. Anyone with an affected product should throw it away or return it. Food safety expert Melissa Vaccaro warns that harmful microorganisms may not change food’s appearance or smell, and tasting it is not a safe test. Proper cooking does not necessarily make these products safe.