Walmart has recalled frozen, raw shrimp sold in 13 states due to potential radioactive contamination, and consumers have been warned not to eat the affected seafood products to prevent health issues.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Walmart pulled three lots of its Great Value brand frozen shrimp from select stores after federal officials detected Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in shipping containers at four U.S. ports: Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami.
What are the affected shrimp products?
The information below is the recalled seafood products and other important information for consumers to know:
BrandProduct NameProduct TypeBest ByItem CodeLot CodeDistributorGreat ValueFrozen Raw White Vannamei ShrimpFrozen Raw EZ Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag3/15/202773831088005540-1WalmartGreat ValueFrozen Raw White Vannamei ShrimpFrozen Raw EZ Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag3/15/202773831088005538-1WalmartGreat ValueFrozen Raw White Vannamei ShrimpFrozen Raw EZ Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag3/15/20277383108IncompleteWalmart
According to the FDA, Walmart received raw frozen shrimp imported after Cs-137 was first detected, though those shipments did not test positive. The agency recommended a recall as a precautionary measure.
Are the levels of Cesium-137 harmful for consumers?
One sample of frozen breaded shrimp also tested positive for the substance, but it did not enter U.S. commerce. All affected products were imported from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, or BMS Foods, in Indonesia.
“FDA determined that [products] from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in that it appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern,” the agency said.
After U.S. Customs and Border Protection detected contamination in shipping containers, the FDA tested five shrimp products from the Indonesian supplier. One frozen breaded shrimp sample contained detectable levels of Cs-137, while the others did not, though contamination could not be ruled out.
What is Cesium-137?
Cs-137 is a man-made radioactive isotope found in trace amounts in the environment, including soil, food, and air, due to global nuclear activity. The FDA monitors food for unusual levels of these contaminants.
The FDA did not find Cs-137 levels above the safety threshold of 1,200 Bq/kg. However, it concluded that the level detected in the breaded shrimp could pose a health risk if consumed regularly over time, especially when combined with other radiation sources. Avoiding products with similar levels helps reduce long-term exposure to low-level radiation.
“If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, throw it away. Do not eat or serve this product,” the FDA said.
The recalled shrimp was sold in Walmart stores across 13 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.
“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” a Walmart spokesperson told the BBC. “We have issued a sales restriction and removed this product from our impacted stores. We are working with the supplier to investigate.”
