Summary
- Kayem Foods is recalling more than 1.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, including Fenway Franks and Old Tyme Reds.
- The USDA says the products may have experienced temperature abuse in storage; Kayem blames a cooling system malfunction at one warehouse.
- No illnesses have been reported, and consumers who have the products are told to throw them away.
- The recalled items were stored and shipped between June 7 and Oct. 14, 2026, and went to retail and food service customers nationwide.
What was recalled
Kayem Foods, a family-owned meat company in Chelsea, Massachusetts, is recalling more than 1.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products after a refrigeration problem at one of its warehouses, according to the company and U.S. Department of Agriculture notices as reported by CBS Boston and Boston.com. [1] [2] [3]
Boston.com counted 68 affected products across multiple lots and expiration dates. They include Fenway Franks, Old Tyme Reds, chicken sausages, bacon and ham. CBS Boston reported that the recall also covers other hot dogs, bologna, kielbasa, bratwurst, beef brisket, corned beef, turkey breast and liverwurst. The company identifies the products by brand, item description, UPC and lot code, and publishes the full list as a PDF on its website. [1] [2] [3]
Why the products were pulled
The USDA said the products "may have experienced temperature abuse during storage," CBS Boston reported. Kayem said a cooling system malfunction at one company warehouse caused storage temperature deviations. Boston.com reported that the company found the problem after a retail customer complained about warm product at delivery on Oct. 1. [1] [2] [3]
Kayem says the affected products were stored and shipped between June 7, 2026, and Oct. 14, 2026. Boston.com reported that the USDA gives a separate production window of March 31 to Oct. 7. The two ranges describe different steps, and neither outlet explains how long any individual product was exposed to warm conditions. [1] [2] [3]
Distribution and illnesses
CBS Boston reported that the products went to retailers and food service locations nationwide. The same report lists three establishment numbers that appear inside the USDA mark of inspection: EST. M/P 7839, EST. P 20935A and EST. M 9520. Kayem said it is contacting wholesale and retail customers directly with instructions to identify and dispose of the products. [1] [2] [3]
No illnesses have been reported, CBS Boston said, and Boston.com attributed to the USDA that there are no confirmed reports of illness. The agency is concerned that some of the products may still be in home refrigerators. [1] [2]
What consumers should do
Anyone who bought Kayem products should check them against the company's list, and should not eat any that match. The USDA and Kayem both say to throw them away. Kayem's statement says it is working with the USDA on the recall. [1] [2] [3]
CEO Matt Monkiewicz said the company is acting "out of an abundance of caution" and that its management team "takes full responsibility," according to the Kayem statement dated Oct. 16. [3]
Background and what happens next
Fenway Franks are the hot dogs sold at Boston Red Sox games. CBS Boston noted that Kayem recalled more than 24,000 pounds of chicken sausage in 2025 because it may have contained plastic pieces. [1]
The notices do not say how many packages are affected, where the warehouse is, or how many products are still in stores or homes, so the scope of the recall could change as the company and the USDA continue their work. [1] [2]
Reporting sources
- CBS Boston · Kayem recalls more than 1.5 million pounds of hot dogs, bacon and other meats for possible "temperature abuse" ↗2026-10-19
- Boston.com · Fenway Franks, Old Tyme Reds among 68 products recalled by Kayem Foods ↗2026-10-20
- Kayem Foods · Kayem Foods voluntary product recall, October 2026 ↗2026-10-16
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