Is Walmart selling radioactive shrimp? What the FDA wants you to know

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to Walmart customers over certain frozen shrimp that may be contaminated with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope. In a press release, the FDA advised consumers not to “eat, sell, or serve certain imported frozen shrimp” from Indonesia’s BMS Foods.

The alert comes after U.S. Customs and Border Protection detected Cs-137 in shipping containers arriving at four U.S. ports: Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami. Following this, the FDA tested a sample of frozen shrimp from BMS Foods and confirmed the presence of Cs-137.

What are the Walmart products in question?

The recalled items are Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp. The FDA specifically listed the following:

• Great Value frozen raw shrimp, lot code 8005540-1, best by 15 March 2027
• Great Value frozen raw shrimp, lot code 8005538-1, best by 15 March 2027
• Great Value frozen raw shrimp, lot code 8005539-1, best by 15 March 2027

“If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, throw it away,” the FDA warned. “Distributors and retailers should dispose of this product and should not sell or serve this product.”

How the radioactive contamination happened

The FDA said the shrimp 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.” While testing to date has not detected contamination in products already on shelves, the agency is taking precautions to prevent potentially contaminated shipments from entering the U.S. food supply.

BMS Foods has been placed on a new import alert for chemical contamination. According to the FDA, “Products from the firm will no longer enter the U.S. until they’ve resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the violation.”

What is radioactive isotope Cesium-137

Cesium-137 is a radioactive isotope created through nuclear reactions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains that cesium is a soft, silvery-white metal that can bond with chlorides to form a crystalline powder. Exposure to high levels can cause burns, acute radiation sickness, or death.

The FDA detected Cs-137 in one shipment at approximately 68 Bq/kg, well below the Derived Intervention Level of 1,200 Bq/kg. At these levels, acute health risks are unlikely, but repeated, long-term exposure could elevate cancer risk due to DNA damage in cells.

Steps taken by authorities

The FDA is coordinating with distributors and Walmart to recall the affected products. The agency is also working with U.S. Customs to ensure no contaminated shrimp reaches store shelves.

“FDA’s laboratory confirmation of Cs-137 in the breaded shrimp had detectable levels of Cs-137 present at 68.48 Bq/kg +/- 8.25 Bq/kg,” the FDA explained. “Avoiding products like the shipment FDA tested with similar levels of Cs-137 is a measure intended to reduce exposure to low-level radiation that could have health impacts with continued exposure over a long period of time.”

BMS Foods has been added to an import alert under the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act. The measure ensures no implicated shrimp products enter U.S. commerce until the company resolves the underlying issues.

FDA consumer guidance

The FDA recommends that consumers:

• Do not eat or serve any of the affected lots of Great Value frozen raw shrimp.
• Dispose of the product safely.
• Consult a healthcare provider if they suspect exposure to elevated levels of cesium.

While no contaminated shrimp has reached U.S. consumers, the precautionary recall reflects the potential long-term risks associated with repeated low-level exposure to radioactive isotopes.

The FDA continues to trace products from BMS Foods throughout the supply chain. They are also working with Indonesian authorities to determine the source of contamination and prevent future incidents. Updates will be provided as new information emerges.