2025-08-20T12:16:00Z

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Imagine sitting down to dinner, only to discover the shrimp on your plate might be radioactive. Sounds like a plot twist straight out of a horror movie, right? Well, it’s a reality for consumers as Walmart recalls frozen raw shrimp sold in 13 states due to potential contamination with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken this serious step after detecting Cesium-137 in shipping containers as well as a sample of breaded shrimp imported from Indonesia. Walmart was prompted to pull three specific lots of their Great Value brand frozen shrimp from shelves after these alarming findings.

According to FDA officials, the products pose a “potential health concern” for anyone who might have been exposed to low levels of Cesium-137 over time. So, if you’ve recently purchased frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, it’s time to say goodbye to those tasty crustaceans—waste not, want not, right?

Fortunately, the risk associated with this recall is “quite low,” reassured Donald Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University. But let’s face it—no one wants a side of radiation with their shrimp cocktail.

Cesium-137 originates from nuclear reactions, including those from nuclear bombs, reactor operations, and even accidents. It’s not just a rare occurrence but is found in trace amounts in our environment, from soil to food to even the air we breathe. While the contamination levels detected in the shrimp were significantly lower than what the FDA would typically intervene on, the agency emphasizes that minimizing exposure to any form of radiation is essential for long-term health.

The FDA is currently investigating the situation, particularly focusing on shipping containers linked to PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, also known as BMS Foods of Indonesia. US Customs and Border Protection officials had flagged the presence of Cesium-137 in cargo headed to US ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, Georgia.

During their investigation, the FDA collected various product samples, confirming contamination in one sample of the frozen breaded shrimp. Consequently, all contaminated shipping containers and products were denied entry into the US. However, Walmart later discovered that they had received additional potentially affected products that didn’t initially trigger contamination alerts.

In response, Walmart swiftly initiated a recall of the implicated products. These include Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp with lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1, all bearing a best-by date of March 15, 2027. The shrimp was distributed across Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. If you find these shrimp in your freezer, do not hesitate—throw them away or return them to any Walmart store for a refund.