FDA Warns Cesium-137 Contamination in Walmart Shrimp Across 13 States

The FDA has issued an advisory warning consumers not to eat certain lots of Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp sold at Walmart across multiple states due to potential contamination with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope. The contamination was detected in shipping containers at four U.S. ports by Customs and Border Protection, and while no contaminated shrimp has been confirmed to have reached store shelves, the FDA recommends discarding the affected products as a precaution to reduce long-term radiation exposure risks. The shrimp, imported from Indonesian firms PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati and BMS Foods, were found to have Cesium-137 levels below the FDA's Derived Intervention Level but still pose potential health risks with prolonged exposure, including an increased risk of cancer. Walmart and distributors have been urged to recall and dispose of the implicated shrimp, and the FDA has placed import alerts to prevent further shipments. Consumers who purchased these shrimp are advised not to consume or serve them and to dispose of them immediately. The FDA continues to investigate and emphasizes its commitment to protecting public health from potential radioactive contamination in imported seafood products.