US regulators are advising customers to refrain from consuming or serving certain shrimp sold at Walmart that could be radioactive.
The frozen raw shrimp, part of Walmart’s private label, was recalled after US Customs and Border Protection found Cesium 137 in a shipping container from a supplier at several ports, including Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami.
“If you’ve bought fresh frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, please discard it. Do not eat or serve it,” the FDA stated in a press release on Tuesday.
Recall Products:
- Great Value Brand Frozen Raw Shrimp, Lot Code: 8005540-1, Best: 3/15/2027
- Great Value Brand Frozen Raw Shrimp, Lot Code: 8005538-1, Best: 3/15/2027
- Great Value Brand Frozen Raw Shrimp, Lot Code: 8005539-1, Best: 3/15/2027
Cesium-137 is a radioactive isotope typically created through nuclear reactions. Long-term exposure to even low doses can potentially increase cancer risks due to DNA damage in body cells, according to warnings from regulators.
The implicated supplier, Bahari Makmur Sejati, which operates as BMS Foods in Indonesia, was identified through FDA lab tests.
The FDA indicated that BMS products may have been “prepared, packed or held under unsanitary conditions that could have led to contamination with Cs-137.”
All products that tested positive for contamination were barred from entering the US.
An FDA investigation is currently ongoing. Meanwhile, the agency has urged retailers and distributors—including Walmart—to carry out recalls and has prohibited all imports from BMS Foods.
A Walmart representative mentioned, “Your health and safety are always our priority. We have implemented sales restrictions and removed the product from the affected stores.”
The company stated it’s collaborating with suppliers to investigate the source of the contamination.
Customs and Border Protection is also working with Indonesia’s seafood regulatory authorities to determine how the contamination occurred.
