FDA Warns of Radioactive Shrimp Contamination in Walmart’s Great Value Brand

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning regarding potential radioactive contamination in certain frozen shrimp products sold at Walmart. Specifically, the agency has focused on Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, which were imported from Indonesian company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods). The frozen shrimp are suspected of contamination with Cesium-137, a man-made radioactive isotope resulting from nuclear reactions.

The FDA's advisory stems from the discovery of Cesium-137 in shipping containers of frozen shrimp, which were intercepted by U.S. Customs & Border Protection at major American ports, including Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami. No product that has tested positive for the isotope has entered the U.S. commerce, according to the FDA. Despite this, the FDA urges consumers to dispose of certain lots of shrimp due to potential health concerns.

The products of concern include two-pound bags of "Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp" with best by dates of March 15, 2027. The lot codes to look out for are 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1. These products were distributed across 13 states, namely Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.

Although the radioactive levels detected were 68 Bq/kg, which is significantly below the FDA’s threshold of 1200 Bq/kg, the agency cautions that chronic exposure to low-level radiation, such as Cesium-137, could elevate the risk of cancer by harming DNA within living cells. Consumers who have recently purchased the identified shrimp from Walmart should immediately dispose of it, and distributors and retailers are directed to do the same.

As an additional precaution, PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati has been placed on an import alert, barring further shipments into the U.S. until sanitary conditions are guaranteed. The FDA is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the contamination and collaborating with both U.S. and Indonesian authorities to ensure the safety and compliance of future imports.

While the FDA has requested a recall from Walmart, the retailer has not yet issued a public response or comment. The public is advised to keep abreast of updates and further instructions from the FDA, as their investigation remains ongoing. Should consumers suspect exposure to elevated levels of cesium, consultation with healthcare providers is recommended.