The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging consumers to avoid certain frozen shrimp products sold at Walmart after concerns arose that the seafood may have been exposed to radioactive material.
In a statement released Tuesday, the agency said it is investigating potential contamination involving Cesium-137 (Cs-137), a radioactive isotope, in shipping containers and frozen shrimp processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Food), an Indonesian company.
According to the FDA, some of the raw frozen shrimp distributed by BMS Food is sold under Walmart’s “Great Value” brand in 13 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.
“If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart matching this description, throw it away. Do not eat or serve this product,” the FDA advised.
Health officials urged individuals who believe they may have been exposed to consult their healthcare providers.
Both Walmart and PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Environmental Protection Agency describes Cesium as a soft, silvery-white metal that can become liquid near room temperature. Its radioactive form, Cs-137, is widely used in medical devices and industrial gauges. Prolonged or repeated exposure, even at low doses, can increase cancer risk by damaging DNA, according to health experts.
The FDA said U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged the issue after detecting Cs-137 in shipping containers arriving at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, Georgia. Shipments testing positive for contamination were denied entry into the United States.
Officials noted that no products tested above the federal intervention threshold of 1,200 Bq/kg. However, one breaded shrimp sample raised concern because combined exposure from food, environmental sources, or medical treatments could pose potential health risks.
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