USDA Recalls Nearly 19,000 Pounds of Ready-to-Eat Meat, Poultry Over High Sodium Nitrite Levels

The items were produced between February 19, 2025, and April 24, 2025.

Published: 5/1/2025, 11:31:02 PM EDT

USDA Recalls Nearly 19,000 Pounds of Ready-to-Eat Meat, Poultry Over High Sodium Nitrite Levels — Honest John Polish Kielbasa. (FSIS)

Nearly 19,000 pounds of prepackaged ready-to-eat meat and poultry products have been recalled due to high levels of sodium nitrite, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has said.

The recall was issued by Smith Packing, LLC, after the Utica, New York-based company received consumer complaints that the products “were off taste and off color,” FSIS said in an April 29 press release.

Tests showed that the products contained “sodium nitrite levels that exceed the regulatory limit,” the company said.

The recall involves 18,792 pounds of sausage, sliced meat, and poultry products, packaged in boxes and pouches of varying sizes and distributed to both retailers and institutional locations in New York, the FSIS said.

The items were produced between February 19, 2025, and April 24, 2025.

List of Products Recalled

The products subject to the recall all bear the establishment ID numbers “EST. 4578” or “P-4578” inside the USDA inspection mark on the label.

Boxed products:

- As-Salaam Beef Breakfast Sausage, 40 lbs, use-by date: 3/10/2026–4/28/2026

- Smith Packing Export Beef Franks 6/1, 10 lbs, use-by date: 2/24/2026–4/28/2026

- Smith Packing Export Bologna, 12 lbs, use-by-date: 4/10/2026–4/28/2026

- Smith Packing Export Salami, 12 lbs, use-by-date: 3/6/2026–4/28/2026

Pouched Products:

- As-Salaam Beef Frank 8/1 Halal, 1 lb, use-by-date: 3/19/2026–4/28/2026

- Smith Packing Beef Knockwurst, 5 lbs, use-by-date: 2/25/2026–4/28/2026

- As-Salaam Beef Smoked Sausage 5/1, 6 lbs, use-by-date: 3/25/2026–4/28/2026

- Honest John Bratwurst 5/1, 1.5 lbs, use-by-date: 3/31/2026–4/28/2026

- Honest John Breakfast Sausage/Brown and Serve, 1 lb, use-by-date: 3/5/2026–4/28/2026

- Honest John HJ Jumbo Franks 8/1, various weights, use-by-date: 5/10/2025–6/12/2025

- Honest John HJ Polish Sausage, 1 lb, use-by-date: 3/24/2026–4/28/2026

- As-Salaam Hot Roasted Chicken Sausage Garlic 5/1, 1 lb, use-by-date: 4/2/2026–4/28/2026

- As-Salaam Roasted Chicken Sausage Garlic 5/1, 1 lb, use-by-date: 4/9/2026–4/28/2026

- Smith Packing NYS Beef Bologna, 1 lb, use-by-date: 3/18/2026–4/28/2026

- Beefland USA Regular Beef Sausage 5/1, 1 lb, use-by-date: 2/19/2026–4/28/2026

- Honest John Retail HJ Polish, 1 lb, use-by-date: 3/3/2026–4/28/2026

As-Salaam Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage. (FSIS) — As-Salaam Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage. FSIS

The recalled products all have the establishment numbers “EST. 4578” or “P-4578” in the USDA inspection mark on the label. (FSIS) — The recalled products all have the establishment numbers “EST. 4578” or “P-4578” in the USDA inspection mark on the label. FSIS

Discard Recalled Products

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of the recalled items, the FSIS stated.

The agency expressed its concern that some products may be in institutional refrigerators or freezers, and in consumers’ homes. The FSIS is urging consumers not to consume or use the products.

“These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” the FSIS said.

Sodium nitrite is a common preservative used in cured meat products for the stabilization of colors and flavors, as well as in the prevention of harmful bacterial growth.

However, it can pose health risks in excessive doses, as it can inhibit the capacity of blood cells to carry oxygen, potentially leading to headaches, confusion, breathing difficulties, heart rate issues, or worse.

Anyone experiencing adverse reactions after consuming the recalled products should contact a health care provider immediately, the FSIS said.

Consumers with further questions about the recall can contact Joe Schaeffer, director of marketing at Palmer Foods, at [email protected].