High - Class I USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Kayem Foods Inc. Meat and Poultry products recall: Processing Defect

Recall published 8 days ago

Processing Defect

The hazard: Temperature control failure

A break in temperature control is behind this recall. The food may be perfectly sound, and there is no way to tell from the pack which units are.

What the notice says: Processing Defect

Why it matters: The product went outside its required temperature range in storage or transport. That does not prove bacteria grew in it, but it removes the control that was supposed to stop them.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

If you have eaten it, watch for the usual food-poisoning pattern — stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhoea, sometimes fever — and seek care for a high fever, bloody stools, persistent vomiting or signs of dehydration.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Recall number
026-2026
Published
October 17, 2026
Risk level
High - Class I
Status
Closed
Issued by
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
Brand
Kayem Foods Inc.
Product type
Chicken & poultry
Units affected
1,584,361 pounds
Distribution
Nationwide
Made in
United States
Lot / code info
Establishment: Kayem Foods Inc.

Products covered by this recall

Full product list available in PDF format - Various RTE meat and poultry products bearing “EST. M/P 7839,” “EST. P 20935A” and “EST. M 9520” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Check your product

The notice names 3 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Model or item number

On the rating label, the box or the instruction sheet.

  • 2026
  • 202

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 361 pounds

Codes are lifted verbatim from the USDA FSIS — Recalls & public health alerts notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Temperature

Kayem Foods Inc. — A break in temperature control is behind this recall. The food may be perfectly sound, and there is no way to tell from the pack which units are.

  1. Do not eat it, even if it looks and smells normal — that is exactly what the recall anticipates.
  2. Check your own fridge or freezer temperature while you are at it: 40°F or below for the fridge, 0°F for the freezer.
  3. Bin it sealed or return it for a refund using the lot code from the pack.
  4. Clean the shelf it sat on if any packaging has leaked.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Company contact: Company Contact Kayem Foods Customer Service Monday – Friday 7:30 am – 4:00 pm EDT 1-800-426-6100 [email protected] Company Contact Media Contact Kraig Naasz 703-628-3669 [email protected]

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the USDA FSIS — Recalls & public health alerts record USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Kayem Foods Inc. chicken & poultry recalled?

Processing Defect Processing Defect

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: model number 2026, 202. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Do not eat it, even if it looks and smells normal — that is exactly what the recall anticipates.

Can I get my money back?

Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.

Where was the recalled product sold?

It was distributed nationwide.

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