Sempio Food Services Chicken Stew Recall: How to Check Your Package

A ready-to-eat chicken stew recall raises an important question: did the product pass the import checks required before it entered U.S. commerce? Sempio Food Services Inc. is recalling chicken stew that FSIS says entered the country without import reinspection.

The official FSIS recall notice confirms the announcement date as September 25, 2026. It names Sempio Food Services Inc., based in Cerritos, California, and lists the affected stew products and where they were distributed.

If you have Sempio chicken stew at home, check the product name, package size, dates, and identifying codes below. The notice also explains what import reinspection means and what to do if your package matches.

What the Sempio chicken stew recall notice says

The date and issuing agency are confirmed

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued the recall notice on September 25, 2026. The FSIS page lists the recall as active and classifies it as an import violation. The agency says routine surveillance led to the discovery.

Confirmed recall details

Sempio Food Services Inc. is recalling about 4,596 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken stew imported from the Republic of Korea. The affected products were produced on March 30, 2026, and have a best-by date of September 29, 2027. FSIS lists two product types, package identifiers, and eight states where the stew was distributed.

What “without the benefit of import reinspection” means

The phrase means the shipment did not receive the required FSIS reinspection before entering U.S. commerce. It does not, by itself, mean the stew was found to contain a harmful substance or caused an illness. The notice says FSIS discovered the issue during routine surveillance and reports no confirmed illnesses or injuries linked to the products.

How to identify the affected Sempio chicken stew

Match the product name and package size

The recall covers cardboard boxes containing pouches of 31.75-ounce (900-gram) “Sempio Korean Ginseng CHICKEN STEW CLASSIC.” It also covers the same size package of “Sempio Korean Ginseng CHICKEN STEW RICH.” Compare the full product name and package size with your label, rather than relying only on the Sempio name.

Check the codes and dates

Look for Korean establishment number GIA15001 and shipping mark MK-2026-0422-01. The recalled stew was produced March 30, 2026, and carries a best-by date of September 29, 2027. Check the pouch and outer box, since the notice identifies the establishment number and shipping mark as package identifiers.

Review the distribution area

FSIS says distributors and retailers received the recalled stew in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The company’s Cerritos address does not mean the products were sold only in California. If your product matches the identifiers, follow the recall guidance even if you bought it outside the listed states.

What consumers should do if they have the recalled stew

Don’t eat a product that matches

If your package matches the recalled names and identifiers, do not eat the stew. The agency urges consumers who bought the affected products not to consume them, and retailers not to sell them. Keep the product separate from other food while you decide whether to return or discard it.

Follow FSIS disposal and return guidance

FSIS says the affected stew should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. The notice does not promise a refund or give separate disposal steps. Contact the retailer about its return process, and check the FSIS recall page for any updated instructions.

Contact Sempio or USDA with questions

For questions about the recall, FSIS lists Sempio Food Services USA President Daniel Park at 562-207-9540, extension 101, or dypark3438@sempiofs.net. For food safety questions, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or email MPHotline@usda.gov. If you believe the stew caused an illness or injury, contact a health care provider.

Why import reinspection matters for food safety

What FSIS checks on imported shipments

The FSIS import reinspection guidance says commercial meat, poultry, and egg shipments must be reinspected at an approved import inspection facility. Inspectors review documents and certification, then check the shipment’s condition and labels. Depending on the shipment, inspection may also include product checks or lab analysis.

What the notice says about risk

FSIS classifies the Sempio recall as Class I, High. The agency defines Class I as a situation where there is a reasonable probability that use of a product will cause serious health consequences or death, but that classification does not confirm contamination in this stew. The FSIS recall classification guide explains the risk categories; the Sempio notice reports no confirmed illness or injury.

The recall’s reported scope

The confirmed quantity is about 4,596 pounds, covering the two named stew products and the eight listed states. FSIS has not reported a number of illnesses or injuries tied to the products. The notice says the issue came to light through routine surveillance, not consumer illness reports.

Where to verify Sempio recall updates

Check the latest agency notice

Use the FSIS recall listing to confirm that the alert remains active and to review any later changes. FSIS says retail distribution lists may be posted when available. A later update could add details, so check the agency page before making a final decision about a package.

Compare company information with the agency notice

Sempio’s contact details in the recall notice can help answer product questions, but FSIS is the primary source for the recall scope and safety instructions. If company information differs from the agency notice, check the latest FSIS posting. Do not rely on a product description that omits the package codes or dates.

Conclusion

The FSIS notice confirms a September 25, 2026, recall of two Sempio Korean Ginseng Chicken Stew products. Match the product names, 31.75-ounce size, establishment number, shipping mark, and dates before deciding whether your stew is affected. If it matches, don’t eat it; return it to the store or throw it away, and check FSIS for updates.

Again, the following products are being recalled:

- Cardboard boxes containing 31.75-oz (900 g) pouches of Sempio Korean Ginseng Chicken Stew Classic

- Cardboard boxes containing 31.75-oz (900 g) pouches of Sempio Korean Ginseng Chicken Stew Rich

These products are identified by the Korean establishment number GIA15001 and shipping mark MK-2026-0422-01.