'Throw it away': US FDA issues urgent recall of 'radioactive' Walmart shrimp. Does it cause cancer?

Walmart has recalled some of its shrimp products in the US after radioactive material was detected in a shipment of seafood. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public not to eat frozen shrimp sold under Walmart's Great Value label could have been exposed to a dangerous isotope in shipping containers.

Americans have been warned to not purchase a potentially radioactive product that’s being sold nationwide. The administration is urging consumers not to buy Great Value’s raw frozen shrimp because it may contain Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope. CS-137 can be found in trace amounts through the environment but can be a matter of concern when found in large quantities.

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Walmart recalls shrimps

Certain Great Value raw frozen shrimp products sold at Walmart are being recalled due to possible contamination with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope. Health officials said in a news release that it is investigating reports of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products processed by an Indonesian company, PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati of Indonesia, also known as BMS Food.


Ingesting too much can cause burns, acute radiation sickness or even death. Customers have also been advised to go to their healthcare providers if they are feeling any of those symptoms after consuming the shrimp.

An investigation by FDA revealed the shrimp was prepared under unsanitary conditions, potentially exposing it to cross-contamination. Initially, the FDA did not find any positive tests of CS-137, writing “At this time, no product that has tested positive or alerted for Cesium-137 has entered the U.S. commerce.”

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“[The] FDA is working with distributors and retailers that received product from Bahari Makmur Sejati, after the date of the first detection of Cs-137 by Customs & Border Protection, but from shipments that did not alert for Cs-137, recommends that firms conduct a recall.”

However, on August 19, the store found four cases of shrimp that tested positive for CS-137. “FDA collected multiple samples for radionuclide analysis, with results confirming the presence of Cs-137 in one sample of breaded shrimp,” the agency reported.

“All containers and product testing positive or alerting for Cs-137 have been denied entry into the country. “The agency continues to coordinate with CBP to prevent any contaminated products from reaching consumers and is working with Indonesian seafood regulatory authorities to investigate the root cause of the contamination.”

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If you bought frozen shrimp from Walmart recently, check the packaging and toss it if it matches the recalled batch.

“If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, throw it away,” the FDA warned. “Do not eat or serve this product.”

Cancer risk a concern

According to a TOI report, even small amounts of radiation exposure, if it happens over time, can raise the risk of health issues like cancer. That’s why the FDA flagged the shrimp as possibly being processed or stored in unsafe conditions, which means there was a chance of contamination.

Walmart released a statement assuring customers the store is committed to their safety.

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“Walmart and Sam’s Club are committed to the health and safety of our customers and members and to providing products that are safe and compliant, all supported by our health and wellness, product safety, and food safety professionals,” the company wrote.

“In the event of a product recall, we work swiftly to block the item from being sold and remove it from our stores and clubs.”

The frozen shrimp was sold at stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.