Major bacon recall hits Grocery Outlet in highest-risk alert

More than 12,000 pounds of bacon sold at Grocery Outlet stores are being recalled after the products entered the United States without undergoing a required federal reinspection.

Maple Leaf Foods is recalling approximately 12,036 pounds of not-ready-to-eat smoked bacon imported from Canada, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The recalled bacon was shipped to Grocery Outlet distributors and retailers in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

Details of the bacon recall

Grocery Outlet is a discount supermarket chain that operates stores across the western United States and several other markets.

Federal regulators are concerned that customers may still have the bacon in their refrigerators or freezers because the affected packages carry sell-by dates in September.

No illnesses or injuries have been reported in connection with the recalled products.

Related: Discount grocery chain closing stores

The recall covers two brands of 12-ounce refrigerated bacon:

• Royale Natural Applewood Smoked All Natural Uncured Bacon with sell-by dates of Sept. 1 and Sept. 7, 2026.
• Top Valu Uncured Hardwood Smoked Bacon with sell-by dates of Sept. 1, Sept. 2, Sept. 4, Sept. 5, and Sept. 7, 2026.

The packages carry the Canadian establishment number "EST. 1" on the side. Master shipping cases are marked with the health certificate number 2026-S732971612.

Customers should not eat the recalled bacon. The USDA instructed consumers to throw it away or return it to the store where it was purchased.

Bacon entered the U.S. without required reinspection

The recalled bacon was produced in Canada on June 9, June 10, June 12, June 13, and June 15.

Imported meat and poultry products must be presented to FSIS at an approved import facility for reinspection before entering U.S. commerce.

More Recalls:

• Kroger hit by 19 million egg recall over serious health risk
• Popular Walmart bakery item recalled over possible glass contamination
• FDA recall hits 2.5 million bottles of widely used eye drops

The process allows federal officials to verify that shipments are eligible to enter the country and comply with U.S. food-safety, labeling, and documentation requirements.

FSIS discovered, during routine inspection activities, that the Maple Leaf bacon had entered the country without having received the required reinspection.

The USDA notice does not identify a pathogen, contaminant, or defect in the bacon itself.

USDA places bacon recall in highest-risk category

FSIS classified the action as a Class I recall, the agency's highest risk category.

A Class I designation means there is a reasonable probability that consuming the recalled product could cause serious health consequences or death.

However, the classification does not mean that contamination or illness has been confirmed. In this case, the bacon is being recalled because it bypassed a required step in the federal import inspection process.

The products are labeled as not ready to eat and require cooking before consumption. Consumers should still follow the USDA's recall instructions rather than attempting to cook and eat the affected bacon.

Anyone concerned about an illness or injury should contact a health care provider.

Related: Publix expands recall because of growing E. coli concerns

The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.

This story was originally published August 4, 2026 at 10:23 AM.