US FDA recalls more shrimp after discovering radioactive contaminant

Editor/Mohamed Shihab

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a voluntary recall of frozen shrimp products due to possible contamination with Cesium-137 (Cs-137), a man-made radioisotope that can elevate cancer risks through longer term, repeated low dose exposure.

The announcement comes shortly after U.S. Customs and Border Control (CBP) detected Cs-137 in shipping containers at the Ports of Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami, with agents finding evidence of the radioisotope in a single shipment of frozen bread shrimp. The discovery led the FDA to issue an alert for frozen shrimp supplied by Indonesia-based PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati to Walmart and sold under the “Great Value” brand name.

“Although testing to date has not confirmed the presence of contamination in any product in commerce, the product appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern,” the FDA said in an alert. “To date, FDA has learned that Walmart has received implicated raw frozen shrimp, imported after the date of first detection of Cs-137 by CBP, but from shipments that did not alert for Cs-137. FDA has recommended Walmart recall this product.”

The agency also issued an import alert to stop all PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati products from entering the U.S. as it continues its investigation. The agency has not been notified of any illnesses due to the products to date, noting that the Cs-137 detected did not reach derived intervention levels but remained a potential health concern.

On 21 August, another company, Carson, California, U.S.A.-based Southwind Foods announced a voluntary recall of several frozen shrimp products due to possible Cs-137 contamination.

“The bagged, frozen shrimp product was distributed between July 17 – August 8, 2025 to retailers, distributors, and wholesalers in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state,” the FDA said in its alert.

The voluntary recall affects 13 different frozen shrimp products across the Sand Bar, Artic Shores, Best Yet, Great American, and First Street brands. Customers who have bought any of the shrimp products listed under the alert can return those purchases for a full refund.