The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against consuming certain frozen shrimp products sold under Walmart’s Great Value brand, following concerns of radioactive contamination. Imported from Indonesian company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, doing business as BMS Foods, the affected shrimp may have been prepared or stored in unsanitary conditions, potentially leading to contamination with cesium-137, a harmful radioactive isotope.
Yesterday, the FDA announced that Customs and Border Protection had detected the isotope in shipments entering through various ports including Miami, as reported by WSVN. As a precaution, Walmart has been urged to recall three specific lots, all with a best-by date of March 15, 2027. The identified lots have codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1 respectively, and span several states such as AL, AR, FL, and more.
Concerningly, the detected levels of Cesium-137, though below the FDA's intervention threshold, pose a potential health risk with long-term exposure. The FDA has clarified that the highest level found was approximately 68 Bq/kg, which is under the Derived Intervention Level of 1200 Bq/kg for this isotope. This means that while not immediately dangerous, repeated consumption over time could increase cancer risks due to DNA damage within living cells.
According to the FDA's advisory, no product that is alerted for Cesium-137 has yet entered U.S. commerce. Nonetheless, the FDA is investigating further and has added PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati to an import alert to stop its seafood from reaching the U.S. market until the situation is resolved. The FDA recommends that consumers who have purchased the implicated product discard it, and advises distributors and retailers to do the same.
For those concerned they might have consumed contaminated shrimp, the FDA suggests consulting a healthcare provider. The ongoing FDA investigations aim to provide continuous updates and ensure that integrity within the food market is maintained.
