FDA Warns of Potential Radioactive Contamination in Walmart's Great Value Frozen Shrimp

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning concerning potential radioactive contamination in specific lots of Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp sold at Walmart stores. The affected products were imported from Indonesian company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati and may contain the radioactive isotope Cesium-137.

The FDA's advisory pertains to the following products:

• Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005540-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
• Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005538-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
• Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005539-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027

Consumers who have purchased these products are advised to dispose of them immediately and not to consume or serve them. Distributors and retailers are also instructed to remove these products from sale and discard them appropriately.

Cesium-137 is a radioactive isotope produced by nuclear fission, commonly found as a byproduct in nuclear reactors and weapons testing. While the FDA detected Cesium-137 in a shipment from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, this particular shipment did not enter U.S. commerce. The agency noted that the detected level of Cesium-137 was approximately 68 Bq/kg, which is below the FDA's threshold of 1200 Bq/kg for levels of concern in imported foods. However, the FDA cautioned that repeated low-dose exposure to Cesium-137 carries an elevated risk of cancer due to potential DNA damage within living cells.

The FDA is collaborating with distributors and retailers to trace all implicated products from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati through the supply chain and has recommended that Walmart initiate a recall of the affected products. The agency's investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.