The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning urging consumers not to eat, sell, or serve a certain brand of frozen raw shrimp labeled under Walmart’s Great Value. The FDA detected cesium-137 in shipments from an Indonesian company, PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods), which were distributed in 13 U.S. states. While no contaminated product has entered stores, the agency has advised caution, and all suspect shipments have been denied entry. Walmart has removed the affected shrimp from its stores and instructed customers to discard or return the product. Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope produced by nuclear fission, can damage DNA and increase cancer risks if ingested.
Customs officials first flagged the problem after detecting cesium-137 in shipping containers at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami. The FDA confirmed that at least one sample of breaded shrimp tested positive for the isotope. Though levels were below the agency’s Derived Intervention Level, it denied entry to all suspect shipments.
Walmart has removed the frozen shrimp from its stores and instructed customers to discard them or seek a refund. The FDA’s statement emphasized the importance of public safety, urging consumers who recently purchased the affected product to throw it away immediately. The agency highlighted that while the detected levels of cesium-137 were below the threshold that would warrant intervention, the presence of the isotope raised significant health concerns.
The incident has sparked questions about the safety of imported seafood and the adequacy of current food safety protocols. Authorities have not yet confirmed the source of the contamination, but the presence of cesium-137 suggests potential exposure to nuclear-related materials. While the FDA has taken steps to ensure the affected product does not reach consumers, the event has raised public alarms about the risks associated with radioactive contaminants in the food supply chain.