More than 4,500 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken stew from Korea is under recall after reaching eight states without required USDA inspection, leaving safety standards unverified for shoppers.
Federal inspectors have ordered the removal of Sempio ready-to-eat chicken stew products sold across Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the action on Sept. 25 after finding the goods were imported from Korea without proper USDA inspection.
USA TODAY reported the agency cannot guarantee the stew meets U.S. food safety and quality standards. That is the core problem: product entered the country, hit store shelves, and only later drew a recall notice.
FSIS inspects certain imported meat, poultry, and egg products after they arrive in the United States. The point is simple. Those goods are supposed to meet the same safety, labeling, and regulatory rules that apply to domestic products.
In this case, the Sempio stews did not get that proper inspection. Regulators moved only after the gap came to light. Consumers were already able to buy the pouches in eight states.
The recalled items are Sempio Korean Ginseng Chicken Stew Classic and Sempio Korean Ginseng Chicken Stew Rich. Both come in 31.75-ounce cardboard boxes holding pouches. They carry establishment number GIA15001 and shipping mark MK-2026-0422-01.
The products were produced on March 30, 2026. The best-by date printed on them is September 29, 2027. That long shelf life means unmarked packages could still sit in pantries months after the recall notice.
FSIS advises people not to eat the affected stew. Throw it away or return it to the place of purchase. Retailers are urged not to sell the products.
No injuries or illnesses are tied to the recall in the available notice. The trigger is the inspection failure itself, not a reported outbreak. Even so, the agency’s own standard is clear: without the required check, it will not vouch for safety or quality.
Sempio Food Services, USA is the company tied to the products. President Daniel Park is listed as the contact for consumer questions at 562-207-9540, ext. 101, or [email protected].
Import rules exist so foreign meat and poultry do not skip the same bar set for American producers. When thousands of pounds clear into eight states without that inspection, the failure is upstream. Shoppers should not have to play cleanup for a system that missed the product on the way in.
Food safety starts at the border check, not at the kitchen trash can.