Washington, D.C. — August 21, 2025 (Agencies): The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health advisory urging consumers to immediately discard specific lots of Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp sold at Walmart, following the detection of Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in an imported shipment from Indonesia.
The shrimp, processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods), was distributed to Walmart stores in 13 states, including Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio. Although the contaminated shipment was intercepted before entering U.S. commerce, the FDA has recommended a voluntary recall of three affected lots due to potential exposure risks.
The implicated products include:
- Lot code: 8005538-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
- Lot code: 8005539-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
- Lot code: 8005540-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
Consumers who purchased these products are advised to throw them away and not consume or serve them. Walmart has removed the shrimp from its shelves and is offering full refunds to affected customers.
The contamination was first flagged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which detected Cesium-137 in shipping containers at Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami ports. Subsequent FDA testing confirmed the presence of the isotope in a sample of breaded shrimp, registering 68 Bq/kg, below the FDA’s Derived Intervention Level of 1,200 Bq/kg.
While the FDA stated that the detected levels do not pose an acute hazard, it emphasized that repeated low-dose exposure to Cesium-137 can increase the risk of DNA damage and cancer over time. The agency has placed BMS Foods on an import alert, banning further shipments until the company resolves the contamination issue.
Cesium-137 is a byproduct of nuclear fission, commonly found in reactor waste and fallout from weapons testing. It is regulated due to its potential to cause radiation sickness, burns, and long-term health complications when ingested or absorbed.
The FDA continues to investigate the root cause of the contamination in coordination with Indonesian seafood authorities and has pledged to update the advisory as more information becomes available.
Consumers concerned about exposure are encouraged to consult their healthcare providers and report any adverse reactions through the FDA’s Consumer Assistance portal.