Finding out your dinner might contain radioactive material isn’t exactly what anyone expects when grabbing groceries. Yet that’s exactly what happened when federal inspectors discovered cesium-137, a radioactive substance, in frozen shrimp products sold at Walmart stores across multiple states. The contamination was detected at major U.S. ports before some products slipped through to store shelves, prompting an immediate recall and investigation into imported seafood safety.
Multiple Walmart shrimp products contain radioactive cesium-137
The recall affects several different shrimp products sold at Walmart locations. The main concern centers around Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp with specific lot codes: 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1, all carrying best-by dates of March 15, 2027. These products were distributed to stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.
The recall expanded to include cocktail shrimp sold in clear plastic trays with red and white labels, affecting about 26,460 packages distributed between July 31 and August 16. Additional products from Seattle-based Aquastar Corp also joined the recall list, including approximately 18,000 bags of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp sold across 17 states in various grocery chains including Baker’s, Gerbes, and Mariano’s.
Border protection flagged contaminated shipments at four major ports
U.S. Customs and Border Protection first detected the radioactive contamination in shipping containers arriving at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, Georgia. The contaminated products originated from Indonesian company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, also known as BMS Foods, which processes frozen shrimp for export. While initial shipments that tested positive were denied entry into the country, other containers from the same supplier had already reached American distributors and retailers.
The FDA immediately placed BMS Foods on its “red list,” meaning the company’s products cannot be sold in the United States until the contamination issue gets resolved. This detection system shows how border inspections work to catch potentially dangerous products, though some items still managed to reach store shelves before alerts were triggered across the supply chain.
Cesium-137 contamination comes from industrial and nuclear sources
Cesium-137 is a man-made radioactive material that doesn’t occur naturally in the environment. It typically comes from nuclear weapons testing, nuclear reactor operations, or nuclear accidents. The substance can contaminate water, soil, and food in areas where environmental contamination has occurred. Unlike natural radiation that exists everywhere in small amounts, cesium-137 represents an artificial addition to the food supply that shouldn’t be there.
This radioactive isotope can accumulate in foods grown, raised, or produced in contaminated areas. The contamination in these shrimp products suggests problems with the processing facilities or the waters where the shrimp were raised. While trace amounts of various radioactive materials exist in the environment due to past nuclear testing, cesium-137 contamination in food products remains relatively rare and indicates specific industrial or environmental issues in the production area.
Health Secretary Kennedy blames foreign dumping practices
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed the contamination during a cabinet meeting, stating that South Asian nations are “dumping shrimp on our country” that is “heavily contaminated.” He specifically mentioned that European nations won’t accept these products, so they’re being sent to American markets instead. Kennedy emphasized that these imported shrimp contain not just radioactive materials but also bactericides, antibiotics, and various chemicals.
Kennedy announced increased FDA inspections on imported shrimp to prevent contaminated products from reaching American consumers. He contrasted this with domestic fishing operations, calling the U.S. fishing industry “the most sustainable and most highly regulated fishing industry in the world.” The comments highlight ongoing tensions between imported seafood and domestic fishing operations, with Kennedy arguing that contaminated imports are putting American shrimpers out of business.
Customers should check lot codes and return affected products
Anyone who purchased the affected shrimp products should immediately check their freezers for the specific lot codes and packaging descriptions. The Great Value frozen raw shrimp packages have lot codes printed on the packaging, while the cocktail shrimp comes in clear plastic trays with UPC code 19434612191. The Kroger Mercado products appear in clear plastic bags with white labels featuring green stripes and specific UPC code 011110626196.
Walmart and other affected retailers are offering full refunds for the recalled products, even without receipts. Customers can either dispose of the shrimp safely in their regular trash or return the products to any store location for a complete refund. The FDA advises against consuming these products and recommends proper disposal to avoid any potential exposure to radioactive contamination, even though the levels detected were relatively low.
No illnesses reported but long-term exposure raises concerns
So far, no illnesses have been reported from consuming the contaminated shrimp products. The FDA notes that the detected levels of cesium-137 were below current intervention thresholds, meaning the immediate danger is relatively low. Food safety expert Donald Schaffner from Rutgers University described the risk from the recalled shrimp as “quite low,” though he still recommends avoiding the products entirely.
The main concern involves repeated exposure to low levels of radioactive material over time. Even small amounts of cesium-137 can potentially cause problems when combined with other sources of radiation from the environment or medical procedures. The FDA emphasizes that while immediate risk remains low, avoiding unnecessary exposure to any radioactive contamination makes sense as a precautionary measure.
Other shrimp brands also affected by the same contamination
The contamination isn’t limited to Walmart’s Great Value brand. California-based Southwind Foods also recalled bagged frozen shrimp sold under multiple brand names including Sand Bar, Arctic Shores, Best Yet, Great American, and First Street. These products were distributed between July 17 and August 8 to retailers and wholesalers in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state.
The widespread nature of the contamination suggests problems with the original Indonesian supplier rather than issues at individual U.S. retailers or distributors. Multiple companies apparently sourced shrimp from the same contaminated facilities, leading to recalls across different brands and store chains. This shows how contamination at a single overseas facility can quickly spread throughout the American food supply chain, affecting numerous products sold under different labels.
FDA increases inspection procedures for imported seafood
The contamination incident has prompted the FDA to strengthen its inspection procedures for imported seafood products. The agency is working more closely with Customs and Border Protection to screen shipments before they enter the country. This includes enhanced testing for radioactive materials and other contaminants that might not be caught through standard food safety inspections.
The FDA has also increased scrutiny of facilities that process seafood for export to the United States. Companies found to have contamination issues, like PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, face placement on restricted import lists that prevent their products from entering American markets. These measures aim to prevent similar incidents and ensure that contaminated products are caught at ports rather than reaching store shelves and consumers’ dinner tables.
Walmart responds with immediate store restrictions and supplier investigation
Walmart immediately implemented sales restrictions and removed all affected products from impacted store locations once the contamination was discovered. The company issued a statement emphasizing that customer safety remains their top priority and that they’re working directly with suppliers to investigate how the contamination occurred. Store managers received instructions to pull products with the specified lot codes from freezer sections and prevent any additional sales.
The retailer is also reviewing its supplier verification processes to prevent similar incidents in the future. This includes enhanced testing requirements for overseas suppliers and additional quality control measures for imported seafood products. Walmart’s response demonstrates how major retailers handle food safety crises, with immediate product removal followed by investigation and process improvements to prevent future contamination issues.
This shrimp contamination incident highlights the complex challenges of ensuring food safety in global supply chains. While the immediate risk appears low, the discovery of radioactive material in everyday grocery products serves as a reminder to check recall notices regularly and pay attention to product lot codes when safety issues arise. The expanded inspection procedures and retailer responses should help prevent similar contamination from reaching American dinner tables in the future.
