Al Fresco Chicken Sausage Recall 2026, Full Product List, UPC Codes, Lot Numbers and What Consumers Should Do

Kayem Foods announced on October 16, 2026, that some fully cooked meat and poultry products stored and shipped between June 7 and October 14, 2026, were being recalled because a warehouse cooling-system malfunction may have allowed harmful pathogens to grow. Harris Teeter’s notice identifies nine affected Al Fresco sausage products, including Sweet Apple Chicken, Garlic Chicken Sausage, Jalapeño Chicken Sausage and Breakfast Links.

Check the exact product name, UPC and lot code before eating any Al Fresco sausage. Because Kayem says to dispose of recalled products while Harris Teeter says to return them for a refund, contact the retailer before taking a package back to the store.

Al Fresco Recall 2026: Quick Facts

Detail	Confirmed information
Manufacturer	Kayem Foods, Inc. (Chelsea, Massachusetts)
Latest recall announcement	October 16, 2026
Reason	Potential pathogen growth after a warehouse cooling-system malfunction
Storage and shipping period cited	June 7 to October 14, 2026
Products affected at Harris Teeter	Nine listed Al Fresco sausage products
How to identify a recalled package	Brand, product description, UPC and lot code
Should you eat the recalled products?	No
Harris Teeter remedy	Full refund for listed products, per its notice
Kayem’s instruction	Dispose of recalled products and do not eat them
Manufacturer contact	1-800-426-6100, [email protected]
Official notices	Kayem Foods recall announcement; Harris Teeter Al Fresco recall page (see Sources)
Regulator	USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
Class action or claim form	None identified

Why Was Al Fresco Chicken Sausage Recalled in October 2026?

Kayem said the cooling-system malfunction resulted in storage temperatures that may have allowed pathogens to grow in some fully cooked products. Fully cooked sausage can still become unsafe if held at improper temperatures after production.

What Does Potential Pathogen Growth Mean?

Pathogens are microorganisms that can cause illness. Food can carry them without looking or smelling unusual. The announcement reviewed does not name a specific pathogen, so do not assume this is a Salmonella, Listeria or E. coli outbreak unless an official notice says so.

Were the Sausages Undercooked?

No. The recall concerns warehouse storage temperatures, not a cooking failure. Do not try to make a recalled product safe by reheating, grilling, freezing or smelling it.

What Do the Dates Mean?

June 7 to October 14, 2026, is the storage and shipping period in Kayem’s announcement. It is not an expiration-date range. Use the UPC and lot code to determine whether a package is affected.

Full List of Al Fresco Sausages Recalled at Harris Teeter

Harris Teeter’s October 16, 2026, notice names nine products and UPCs.

Recalled Al Fresco product	Listed package size	UPC
Pepper & Asiago Dinner Sausage	11 oz.	3077102630
Garlic Chicken Sausage	11 oz.	3077102632
Jalapeño Chicken Sausage	11 oz.	3077102635
Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage	11 oz.	3077102636
Sweet Apple Chicken	12 oz.	3077102637
Andouille Chicken Sausage	11 oz.	3077102638
Applewood Smoke Link	11 oz.	3077102641
Breakfast Links	7.5 oz.	3077102666
Breakfast Sausage Patty	7 oz.	3077109676

This is Harris Teeter’s list. Kayem’s announcement refers to other fully cooked meat and poultry products, so do not treat the table as a complete inventory of everything covered.

Is Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage Recalled?

Yes. It appears under UPC 3077102637. Schnucks published a notice with the same UPC and lot numbers 240 and 229 for its 11-ounce product. The two retailers list different package sizes (12 oz. at Harris Teeter, 11 oz. at Schnucks), so do not rely on size alone. Check the UPC and lot code against Kayem’s affected-product list.

Are Breakfast Links and Patties Recalled?

Yes. Breakfast Links (7.5 oz., UPC 3077102666) and Breakfast Sausage Patty (7 oz., UPC 3077109676) are on Harris Teeter’s list. Do not assume breakfast items are safe because they are not dinner sausages.

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Al Fresco Recall Lot Numbers: What Has Been Confirmed?

Kayem tells consumers to identify recalled products by brand, description, UPC and lot code, and links an affected-product list. Schnucks’ October 17, 2026, notice adds these lots:

Product listed by Schnucks	UPC	Published affected lots
Al Fresco Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage, 11 oz.	3077102637	240, 229
Al Fresco Pepper & Asiago Chicken Sausage, 11 oz.	3077102630	248

These are the lots in one retailer’s notice, not a complete list for every store. Harris Teeter’s public notice lists UPCs but not a full lot breakdown. If your lot code is not shown, check Kayem’s affected-SKU list or call Kayem. A different lot number from those above does not prove a package is safe.

Was Al Fresco Sausage Sold Nationwide?

Kayem says it is contacting wholesale and retail customers directly with instructions to identify and dispose of recalled products. Harris Teeter confirms its listed products were sold in its stores, and Schnucks published its own notice. Distribution can vary by product and retailer, and the announcement does not say every item reached every state. If you bought Al Fresco sausage elsewhere, check that retailer’s recall page and Kayem’s list.

What Should You Do If You Bought Recalled Al Fresco Sausage?

1. Check the label. Find the name, UPC and lot code, and compare them with the notices. Keep the label or take a clear photo.
2. Do not taste or cook it. A product can look and smell normal and still be unsafe.
3. Follow disposal or return instructions. Kayem says to dispose of recalled product. Harris Teeter says to return listed products for a full refund. Schnucks offers a refund or exchange for its covered products. Call the store first.
4. Keep it away from other food. Do not share it or feed it to pets, and clean refrigerator shelves and surfaces it touched.
5. Ask about the refund. The notices reviewed do not set one receipt rule for every retailer, so ask the specific store.

Contact Information

• Kayem Foods: 1-800-426-6100 (Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern), [email protected]
• Harris Teeter: your local store or the recall notice. Have the product name, UPC, lot code, purchase location and whether the package is open ready.

What If You Already Ate the Recalled Sausage?

Eating a recalled product does not mean you will become ill, but watch for symptoms. Because no specific pathogen has been named, symptoms and timing can vary.

• Common symptoms: diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever
• Seek medical care for: bloody diarrhea, diarrhea lasting more than three days, fever above 102°F, repeated vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down, or signs of dehydration
• Higher-risk groups: pregnant people, young children, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems should seek advice promptly if ill after possible exposure

Tell your clinician the product and when you ate it, and keep the label or a photo.

Is the October 2026 Recall the Same as the July 2025 Al Fresco Recall?

No. They are separate incidents.

Detail	July 2025 recall	October 2026 recall
Product	Al Fresco Chicken Sausage Sweet Apple with Vermont-made syrup	Nine products at Harris Teeter, plus other Kayem products
Package size	11 oz., four links	Varies by product
Lot code	179	See notices (for example 240, 229, 248)
Use/freeze-by date	October 1, 2025	Not the key identifier
Production date	June 28, 2025	Storage and shipping June 7 to October 14, 2026
USDA establishment number	P-7839	Check the package and notices
Quantity	About 24,173 pounds	Not specified in the notices reviewed
Reason	Possible plastic pieces	Potential pathogen growth after a cooling malfunction

The July 2025 recall followed three consumer complaints about white plastic, with no confirmed injuries reported at the time, and the product shipped to retailers nationwide. Some coverage rounded the recalled quantity to 24,000 to 26,000 pounds, but the USDA figure is about 24,173 pounds. Old lot codes and dates must not be used to judge the 2026 recall. The same UPC can identify product sold at different times without proving a package belongs to a recalled lot.

Does a Recall Mean Every Package of Al Fresco Is Unsafe?

No. A recall covers the products and lots in a specific notice. But uncertainty about a lot code is not a reason to eat a package. If you cannot tell whether yours is affected, do not eat it while you wait for confirmation. Frozen, sealed or in-date packages are not necessarily safe, since the concern is storage temperature.

What Laws Govern Meat and Poultry Recalls?

USDA FSIS Authority

Chicken sausage is regulated by USDA FSIS under the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. § 451 et seq.) and, for other meat items, the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.). Products must be wholesome, not adulterated and truthfully labeled, and plants carry an establishment number inside the USDA mark of inspection, such as P-7839 in the 2025 recall.

How Recalls Work

Most meat and poultry recalls are voluntary, with FSIS overseeing the company’s recall and classifying its health risk (Class I, II or III). FSIS does not have broad mandatory recall power, but it can withhold or withdraw inspection, which stops a plant from operating, and can detain or seize product (21 U.S.C. §§ 467, 672, 673; 9 C.F.R. Part 500). FSIS recall guidance appears in 9 C.F.R. Part 418.

Food Safety Plans and Temperature Control

Meat and poultry plants must follow Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) rules (9 C.F.R. Part 417), including controls for temperature. Warehouse cooling failures like the one in this recall fall within that framework, though a recall does not itself mean a violation was found.

Foreign Material Recalls

Plastic or other foreign material can make a product adulterated under federal law (21 U.S.C. § 453(g) for poultry products). That is the legal basis of the July 2025 recall.

Your Legal Rights if You Were Harmed

A recall alone does not entitle anyone to damages. If you were injured by contaminated food, state law may allow claims for strict product liability, negligence, breach of the implied warranty of merchantability (UCC § 2-314) or violations of consumer-protection statutes. Deadlines vary and are often two to three years from injury or discovery. Keep packaging, lot codes, receipts, medical records and any lab results, and consult a licensed product-liability attorney in your state. A refund is separate from any injury claim.

For related coverage, read McCain Foods Recalls 650K Pounds Tater Tot Recall, What You Need to Know About the Plastic Contamination and A&D Foods Meat Recall, 167,639 Pounds Pulled Nationwide Over Fake USDA Inspection Marks.

Where Can You Find Official Updates?

Use the original notices, not social posts that may mix the 2025 and 2026 recalls:

• Kayem Foods: the October 16, 2026, announcement with the reason, instructions and affected-product list
• Harris Teeter: the Al Fresco recall page with nine products, sizes and UPCs
• Schnucks: its Al Fresco poultry recall notice with extra lot numbers
• USDA FSIS: Recalls and Public Health Alerts
• CDC: food poisoning symptoms and when to seek care

Frequently Asked Questions About the Al Fresco Recall

Is Al Fresco chicken sausage recalled in October 2026?

Yes. Kayem announced the recall on October 16, 2026, over possible pathogen growth after a warehouse cooling-system malfunction. Harris Teeter lists nine Al Fresco sausage products.

Which Al Fresco products were recalled?

Pepper & Asiago Dinner Sausage, Garlic Chicken Sausage, Jalapeño Chicken Sausage, Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage, Sweet Apple Chicken, Andouille Chicken Sausage, Applewood Smoke Link, Breakfast Links and Breakfast Sausage Patty.

What is the UPC for Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage?

3077102637 at Harris Teeter. Schnucks lists lots 240 and 229 for the same UPC. Verify UPC and lot together.

What are the recalled lot numbers?

Schnucks lists lots 240 and 229 (Sweet Apple) and 248 (Pepper & Asiago). That is not a complete list for every retailer, so check Kayem’s affected-SKU list.

Why was Al Fresco sausage recalled?

Potential pathogen growth after a cooling-system malfunction at a Kayem warehouse. No specific pathogen was named in the announcement reviewed.

Can I eat it if it smells normal?

No. Contaminated food can look and smell normal.

Can I get a refund?

Harris Teeter says customers who bought its listed products can return them for a full refund. Kayem says to dispose of recalled product. Call the store before returning it.

Do I need a receipt?

The notices reviewed do not set a universal rule. Ask the specific retailer.

Is this related to the July 2025 plastic recall?

No. That recall involved possible plastic in one Sweet Apple lot (lot 179). The 2026 recall concerns possible pathogen growth.

Is this a confirmed Salmonella or Listeria outbreak?

No official notice reviewed names a specific pathogen.

What should I do if I already ate it?

Stop eating it, watch for symptoms, and seek care for severe ones. Tell your clinician which product you ate and when.

Sources

1. Kayem Foods: Voluntary Product Recall, October 16, 2026
2. Harris Teeter: Al Fresco Chicken Sausage recall
3. Schnucks: Kayem Foods fully cooked Al Fresco poultry products recall, October 17, 2026
4. USDA FSIS: Recalls and Public Health Alerts
5. CDC: Food poisoning symptoms
6. USDA FSIS: Kayem Foods ready-to-eat chicken sausage recall, July 17, 2025
7. Yavapai County: July 2025 Kayem Foods chicken sausage recall information
8. Federal law: Poultry Products Inspection Act, 21 U.S.C. § 451 et seq., and Federal Meat Inspection Act, 21 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.
9. Federal regulations: 9 C.F.R. Parts 417 (HACCP), 418 (recalls) and 500 (enforcement)

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is a consumer legal-information website, not a law firm. Recall details can change, so verify product and lot information against the latest official notice. If you believe you were harmed by a food product, seek medical care and consult a licensed attorney.