Walmart has issued a recall of frozen, raw shrimp sold in 13 states after federal health officials detected potential radioactive contamination.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked the retailer to pull three lots of Great Value brand frozen shrimp after officials found traces of Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in shipping containers and a sample of breaded shrimp imported from Indonesia.
FDA officials said the products could pose a “potential health concern” for people exposed to low levels of Cesium-137 over time, though the risk from the recalled shrimp is “quite low,” according to food safety expert Donald Schaffner of Rutgers University.
Cesium-137 is a byproduct of nuclear reactions, including weapons testing, reactor operations, and accidents. Trace amounts of the isotope exist globally in soil, food, and air. While the detected level in the shrimp was far below FDA intervention thresholds, the agency recommends avoiding potentially contaminated products to reduce long-term exposure.
The FDA investigation centers on shipments processed by P.T. Bahari Makmur Sejati, also known as BMS Foods, in Indonesia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection found Cesium-137 in containers sent to ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, Georgia, prompting the agency to deny entry to the contaminated shipments.
Officials later discovered that Walmart had received additional potentially affected products from subsequent shipments that did not trigger contamination alerts. In response, the retailer immediately recalled Great Value frozen raw shrimp with lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1, all carrying best-by dates of March 15, 2027.
The shrimp was sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. Consumers are advised to discard the products or return them to any Walmart store for a full refund.