FDA Recalls Walmart Shrimp Over Possible Contamination

FDA recalls Walmart shrimp for radiation
Cesium-137 contamination detected by FDA
Serious health risk

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of frozen shrimp sold at Walmart over possible contamination with cesium-137 (Cs-137).

The FDA notice, issued on August 19, states that the affected products were processed by the Indonesian company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, operating as BMS Foods.

The shrimp are sold under the Great Value brand and correspond to 900-gram bags of raw, frozen, white vannamei shrimp, easy to peel, with tails on.

The batch codes subject to recall are 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1, all with an expiration date of 03/15/2027, according to the FDA.

FDA recalls Walmart shrimp for cesium-137

The FDA warns public not to eat, sell or serve certain Great Value raw frozen shrimp sold at Walmart due to possible contamination a radioactive isotope

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The presence of Cs-137 in these products represents a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the agency explained.

The FDA specified that the shrimp may have been prepared, packaged, or stored under unsanitary conditions, which facilitates contamination with this radioactive element.

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Cesium-137 is a synthetic radioisotope that emits radiation as it decays and is produced through nuclear fission, according to the FDA’s website.

In the United States, Cs-137 is used in medical devices and industrial gauges, although it can also be found in the environment, including soil, food, and air.

Affected products and batch codes

FDA warns of radioactive contamination in some frozen shrimp sold at Walmart https://t.co/9QUdE9e47a

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Due to health risks, the FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection conduct monitoring tests and regulate the presence of Cs-137 in imported and domestic products.

Prolonged exposure to low levels of radiation can cause burns, acute radiation sickness, cancer, and even death, the FDA warned.

For this reason, regulatory agencies strictly restrict exposure to this element, seeking to minimize potential long-term impacts on consumers’ health.

Walmart, for its part, has cooperated with the FDA and has voluntarily removed the affected batches from its stores and online platforms, recommending that customers not consume the contaminated shrimp.

What to do if you bought the product?

The FDA emphasized that anyone who purchased shrimp from the affected batch should discard them or return them to the point of purchase.

This recall highlights the importance of monitoring imported products and the need to comply with food safety standards to protect public health.

The FDA said it confirmed the presence of Cs-137 in a breaded shrimp sample, which was denied entry into the United States.

“The FDA has concluded that the level detected in the breaded shrimp sample could represent a potential health risk to those exposed to this level of Cs-137 through the consumption of shrimp over a prolonged period, combined with existing environmental radiation and from other sources, such as medical procedures,” the agency said in a statement.