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Aug 20 2025
Walmart Frozen Shrimp Recall: FDA Issues Warning Over Potential Radioactive Contamination

Federal health officials have ordered the recall of certain frozen shrimp products sold at Walmart stores across 13 states due to potential contamination with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope.

What Products Are Affected

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat, sell, or serve specific lots of Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp that may contain Cesium-137 contamination. The affected products include:

  • Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp
  • Lot codes: 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1
  • Best by date: March 15, 2027
  • Package size: 2-pound bags
  • States affected: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia

How the Contamination Was Discovered

U.S. Customs and Border Protection first detected Cesium-137 in shipping containers at four major ports: Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, Georgia. The contaminated products originated from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (operating as BMS Foods), an Indonesian seafood processing company.

FDA testing subsequently confirmed the presence of Cesium-137 in one sample of frozen breaded shrimp from the same supplier. While no products that tested positive for the radioactive isotope have entered U.S. commerce, the FDA recommended the recall as a precautionary measure for products imported after the initial detection.

Health Risks and Safety Information

The contamination levels detected—approximately 68 becquerels per kilogram—fall well below the FDA’s intervention threshold of 1,200 becquerels per kilogram. According to food safety expert Donald Schaffner from Rutgers University, the immediate risk from the recalled shrimp is “quite low.”

However, health officials warn that repeated exposure to even low levels of Cesium-137 over time could pose health concerns. The primary risk is an elevated cancer risk due to DNA damage within living cells. The CDC notes that external exposure to large amounts of Cesium-137 can cause burns, acute radiation sickness, and even death, though such extreme exposures are rare.

Understanding Cesium-137

Cesium-137 is a man-made radioactive isotope produced through nuclear fission. It’s commonly used in medical radiation therapy devices and industrial gauges. The substance is a byproduct of nuclear reactions, including nuclear weapons testing, reactor operations, and accidents.

Due to widespread nuclear testing in the mid-20th century, trace amounts of Cesium-137 are found throughout the global environment in soil, food, and air. The isotope has a half-life of approximately 30 years and bonds easily with chlorides, behaving chemically similar to table salt.

Consumer Advisory and Actions

Immediate actions for consumers:

  • Discard the product immediately if you have purchased any of the affected shrimp lots
  • Do not eat or serve the product under any circumstances
  • Return to any Walmart store for a full refund, regardless of receipt

If you suspect exposure:

  • Contact your healthcare provider if you believe you may have consumed the contaminated shrimp
  • While acute health effects are unlikely given the low contamination levels, medical consultation is recommended for peace of mind

Walmart’s Response

Walmart has confirmed the immediate recall of all affected products from impacted stores. Company spokesperson Kelly Hellbusch stated, “The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority. We have issued a sales restriction and removed this product from our impacted stores. We are working with the supplier to investigate.”

The retailer is offering full refunds to customers who purchased the affected products, with no receipt required.

Regulatory Action

The FDA has placed PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati on a “red list” import alert, effectively banning all products from the company until it resolves the contamination issues. The agency is continuing its investigation into the root cause of the contamination and working with Indonesian authorities to prevent future incidents.

This recall underscores the importance of robust food safety monitoring systems and international cooperation in protecting consumers from contaminated imports. The swift detection and response demonstrate the effectiveness of current screening procedures at U.S. ports of entry.

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Feb 4 2025
Webinar: Sickle Cell Pain Management

Sickle Cell Pain Management

This Friday, February 7 from 10AM-1PM Pacific Time, the National Academies consensus study committee will host an online information-gathering webinar on Pain Management and living with sickle cell disease (SCD).

The webinar will focus on pain management interventions and strategies, with special attention to questions such as:

  • When and how often are parenteral opioid pain medications used to manage SCD pain crises?
  • What are indicators or contraindicators for their use?
  • How have best practices regarding opioid pain medication changed over the past 10 years?
  • What circumstances or factors might lead providers not to prescribe opioid pain medication, even when advised by current best practices?
  • What other pain medications might be administered in the context of a severe pain crisis?
  • What can alternative medications tell us about a patient’s symptom severity?
  • What non-pharmacological interventions, including traditional and alternative therapies and home remedies, are available to manage pain associated with SCD?
  • What treatments or interventions used for acute pain crises are equivalent to parenteral opioid medication in terms of medical severity of the underlying acute crisis?

Learn more on the event page.

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