Sempio Recalled Chicken Stew Over Import Inspection Lapse
Consumers in eight states should check their pantries for specific pouches of chicken stew that bypassed mandatory oversight.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Organic Food
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Sempio Food Services Inc. has recalled 4,596 pounds of imported ready-to-eat chicken stew products due to a failure to undergo required U.S. import reinspection. No illnesses have been linked to the affected products, which were distributed across the Eastern and Midwestern U.S.
Why it matters
Imported meat and poultry products must undergo inspection by federal authorities to ensure they meet domestic safety standards. This recall was triggered to address a gap in that oversight process for these specific batches.
The recall involves 31.75-ounce pouches produced on March 30, 2026, and identified by establishment number GIA15001. While this is an active recall, there are no confirmed reports of injury or illness currently associated with the consumption of these items.
The players
Sempio Food Services Inc.
A distributor of food products based in Cerritos, California.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
The agency within the USDA responsible for ensuring the safety of the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products.
The details
The products, which include Sempio Korean Ginseng Chicken Stew Classic and Rich, bypassed mandatory federal import reinspection protocols designed to verify that foreign-produced meat items adhere to U.S. safety requirements. Consumers can identify the affected items by checking for the shipping mark MK-2026-0422-01 on the packaging. The issue was identified during routine surveillance activities performed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Timeline
March 30, 2026: The chicken stew products were produced.
September 25, 2026: The recall was officially announced.
September 29, 2027: The date by which the recalled products reach their shelf life.
Health Landscape
This recall underscores the strict enforcement of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, which mandates that all foreign-produced meat and poultry undergo inspection upon entry into the country. Such measures remain a critical component of the national safety net for monitoring imported food goods.
If you have purchased Sempio Korean Ginseng Chicken Stew in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, or Virginia, check the product for establishment number GIA15001. Do not consume the product and consult your physician if you feel unwell after eating it.
The takeaway
Consumers should always check labels for establishment numbers during a public safety recall to determine if their pantry items are affected. You can keep up to date on food safety notices by monitoring the USDA's recall database for new information regarding product distribution lists.
Further reading
For more information on food safety standards and recalls, visit the Organic Food section.
More information
To report a concern, you may report meat and poultry product problems through the official federal portal.
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Do you trust that current food safety inspections are sufficient to keep imported goods safe?
