The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers about frozen shrimp available at Walmart, advising against eating, selling, or serving these products due to concerns of potential radioactive contamination.
This alert comes after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detected the radioactive isotope Cesium-137 in shipping containers at four US ports: Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, Georgia, and Miami.
Upon collecting various samples for testing, the FDA confirmed that one sample of shrimp from BMS Food in Indonesia showed the presence of Cesium-137. A news release from the agency stated this information on Tuesday.
The FDA indicated that shipping containers and products testing positive for Cesium-137 have been denied entry into the country. They are actively working with CBP to stop contaminated products from reaching consumers, and they are also collaborating with Indonesia’s seafood regulator to understand the root causes of the issue.
It’s worth noting that none of the shrimp that made it into the US food supply tested positive for Cesium-137, according to the FDA.
The FDA recommended that all products from BMS Food sent after the positive test for Cesium-137 should be viewed with caution, even if some products did not show signs of contamination.
Consumers should avoid certain Great Value shrimp products sold at Walmart in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia:
- Great Value Brand Frozen Raw Shrimp, Lot Code: 8005540-1, Best by: 3/15/2027.
- Great Value Brand Frozen Raw Shrimp, Lot Code: 8005538-1, Best by: 3/15/2027.
- Great Value Brand Frozen Raw Shrimp, Lot Code: 8005539-1, Best by: 3/15/2027.
While the FDA has not found Cesium-137 in products exceeding the current safety threshold (1200 BQ/kg), they noted that the levels detected in the tested samples could still pose health risks for individuals exposed to this isotope from either consumption of the shrimp or environmental sources, as their statement on Tuesday reflected.
