Walmart's shrimp under scrutiny due to FDA's concerns over radioactive pollution in some supplies
FDA Warns Against Consumption of Certain Frozen Shrimp from Walmart Due to Radioactive Contamination
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning not to eat, sell, or serve raw frozen shrimp from BMS Foods (PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati) supplied to Walmart, due to possible contamination with the radioactive isotope Cesium-137 (Cs-137). The affected shrimp is sold under the Great Value brand at Walmart.
The FDA's warning is due to concerns about unsanitary conditions and radioactive contamination found in shipments from supplier BMS Foods. The contaminated shipments were detained at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami, but did not reach the US market.
The advisory applies to 2-pound Great Value bags of white vannamei shrimp with a best-by date of March 15, 2027. Walmart has confirmed that it recalled the product from impacted stores. The recall has expanded beyond Walmart's Great Value brand, now including additional brands through a voluntary recall by Southwind Foods, a parent brand distributing frozen raw and cooked shrimp possibly contaminated with Cs-137 in multiple U.S. states.
The FDA, together with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), detected Cs-137 contamination in shipping containers and in one sample of breaded shrimp processed by BMS Foods, from Indonesia. CBP found contaminated shipments at four U.S. ports: Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami. All containers testing positive or alerting for Cs-137 were denied entry into the U.S.
The FDA has determined that the shrimp may have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions that likely led to contamination with Cs-137, violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. As a precaution, all BMS Foods products are banned from entry into the U.S. until the company resolves the safety issues.
Importantly, no product from BMS Foods tested positive for Cs-137 levels that would cause acute radiation hazard, but the contamination still poses a safety concern. The levels of cesium detected were about 68 becquerels per kilogram, which is below the FDA's intervention level of 1,200 Bq/kg.
An investigation into the issue is ongoing, in conjunction with Indonesian seafood regulatory authorities. The FDA issued the advisory out of caution, citing potential risks of cancer from long-term, low-dose exposure and problems at the supplier's facility.
Cesium-137 is a radioactive material that can cause severe health effects if ingested or exposed in significant amounts, including burns, acute radiation sickness, and death, according to EPA and CDC resources.
In summary, the FDA’s current status involves active investigation, import bans on BMS Foods shrimp until resolved, recalls of potentially contaminated products sold at Walmart and other brands, and ongoing efforts to identify and prevent distribution of radioactive shrimp to consumers.
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