Walmart recalled three lots of Great Value frozen raw shrimp after the FDA detected Cesium-137 in shipping containers and a sample of breaded shrimp imported from Indonesia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged containers sent to ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Savannah, prompting FDA sampling and refusal of entry for contaminated shipments. The detected Cesium-137 level in the shrimp sample was far below FDA intervention thresholds, but officials warned that avoiding potentially contaminated products can reduce long-term exposure risks. The FDA is investigating processing by P.T. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods) and advised consumers to discard matching products.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked Walmart to pull three lots of Great Value brand frozen shrimp from stores after federal officials detected Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in shipping containers and a sample of breaded shrimp imported from Indonesia. The products could pose a "potential health concern" for people exposed to low levels of Cesium-137 over time, FDA officials said. "If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, throw it away," FDA officials said in a statement.
Cesium-137 is a byproduct of nuclear reactions, including nuclear bombs, testing, reactor operations and accidents. It's widespread around the world, with trace amounts found in the environment, including soil, food and air. The level detected in the frozen breaded shrimp was far lower than FDA intervention levels. However, the agency said that avoiding potentially contaminated products could reduce exposure to low-level radiation that could lead to health problems over time.
The FDA is investigating reports of Cesium-137 contamination in shipping containers and products processed by P.T. Bahari Makmur Sejati, doing business as BMS Foods of Indonesia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials alerted FDA that they found Cesium-137 in shipping containers sent to U.S. ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Savannah, Georgia. FDA officials collected several product samples and detected contamination in one sample of frozen breaded shrimp.
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