Kayem Foods launched a Kayem hot dog and bacon recall after a refrigeration problem affected more than 1.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat. The company said about 60 products were pulled, and consumers who bought them should throw them out or take them back for a refund.
The recalled products were sold at Walmart, Stop & Shop, and other grocery stores along the East Coast. Recalled Kayem products include Kayem Old Tyme Beef & Pork Franks, Kayem Fenway Franks, Genoa Hot Ham, Al Fresco Chicken Breakfast Sausage, and McKenzie Cob Smoked Bacon.
Kraig Nassaz on the warehouse fans
Kraig Nassaz said three fans malfunctioned in the cooling system in the warehouse and had since been repaired or replaced. A retail store noticed its meat was delivered warm and alerted Kayem Foods, which led to the recall.
The products carry establishment numbers EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A, or EST. M 9520 inside the Department of Agriculture mark of inspection stamped on the back. No injuries or illnesses have been reported.
Walmart and Stop & Shop stores
Walmart said the recalled products were sold in stores in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The company said it moved swiftly to remove the impacted products from its stores and implement a sales block at its registers and online.
Stop & Shop said the recalled products were sold at stores in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and select stores in Connecticut. That leaves the recall nationwide, but most of the affected retailers are along the Eastern Seaboard.
Kayem Foods Customer Service
James E. Rogers said consumers should throw out the products or return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund. He said, "Even cooked meats must be properly refrigerated," and added that all foods, including meats and even cooked meats, should be stored at about 37 degrees F inside a fridge.
Paul Hope said that if a refrigerator does not let a user choose a precise temperature, the manual should be checked to see whether the numeric settings correspond to particular temperatures. He also said a bottle of water can be placed in the fridge overnight and checked with an instant-read thermometer to see how cold the refrigerator is keeping food.
Consumers with questions can contact Kayem Foods Customer Service at 800-426-6100 or [email protected]. For anyone with the recalled products at home, the immediate step is to check the establishment number on the back before deciding whether to keep, return, or discard the package.
