Radioactive shrimp? US warns Walmart buyers to discard frozen shrimp

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has halted imports from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods), an Indonesian shrimp supplier, after detecting cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in a shipment of frozen raw shrimp. The FDA announced on August 19 that U.S. Customs officials identified the contamination in a container, which was prevented from entering U.S. commerce.

The shipment was bound for cities including Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami.“FDA detected Cs-137 in a single shipment of imported frozen shrimp from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati that did not enter U.S. commerce,” the FDA stated. Although the cesium-137 level was 68 Bq/kg—well below the safety threshold of 1200 Bq/kg—long-term exposure could pose cancer risks. Cesium-137, a non-naturally occurring isotope with a 30-year half-life, can persist in soil, food, and water after events like nuclear tests or reactor accidents.

The FDA issued a consumer alert, advising against consuming BMS Foods’ shrimp. Walmart recalled three lots of its Great Value brand shrimp across 13 states, as some products were imported after the initial detection but showed no cesium-137. BMS Foods faces an import ban for violating sanitary regulations, and the FDA, alongside Indonesian authorities, continues to investigate the contamination source.