The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending a recall of frozen raw shrimp sold at Walmart nationwide, the organization said on Tuesday.
The shrimp, sold under the Great Value brand, may contain radioactive materials, which could raise cancer risk over time.
Check your freezer for any affected shrimp, the FDA said, and throw it away immediately.
Which Products Are Affected?
The FDA has recommended that Walmart recall three lots of frozen raw shrimp that were processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (or BMS Foods), a company based in Indonesia.
The possibly affected shrimp can be identified by the following information:
- Brand: Great Value
- Product name: Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp
- Product type: Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp
- Size: 2-pound bags
- Item code: 7383108
- Lot codes: 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1
- Best-by date: 3/15/2027
Why Is the FDA Calling for a Recall?
The affected shrimp may be contaminated with cesium-137 (Cs-137), a radioactive isotope of the chemical element cesium.
Cs-137 is produced by nuclear reactions and used in certain medical devices and gauges. Because it’s used widely, trace amounts of Cs-137 can sometimes be found in soil, food, or air.
The FDA monitors for Cs-137 in food, as the radiation can pose serious health risks. Large amounts of Cs-137 exposure can cause burns, radiation sickness, or death. But even low levels of exposure can damage DNA over time, increasing the risk of cancer.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection initially detected the Cs-137 radiation in shipping containers at four U.S. ports. The FDA then collected samples of the products inside and found a small amount of Cs-137 in one sample of frozen breaded shrimp from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati.
The amount of Cs-137 in the sample fell below the FDA’s threshold for intervention, but the organization said it could still “represent a potential health concern” if people were to consume the shrimp over an extended period of time.
None of those contaminated products were allowed into the country. However, Walmart received a separate shipment of raw frozen shrimp from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati distributed just after the Cs-137 was first detected.
The Great Value Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp have not tested positive for Cs-137 at this time. But the FDA is still advising consumers not to eat the shrimp, as it may “have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137.”
What You Should Do
If you recently purchased a 2-pound bag of frozen shrimp from Walmart, check to see if it’s one of the affected products. If it is, throw it away immediately.
It’s unlikely the shrimp contains dangerous levels of Cs-137, but you can talk to your healthcare provider if you’re concerned about your exposure.
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