The Hawai‘i Department of Health's Food and Drug Branch has issued an alert concerning a seafood recall by Sea Port Products Corp. The company has called back its Sea Port brand Raw Frozen Easy Peel White Shrimp, jumbo size 16/20, owing to potential contamination with Cesium-137, alerting residents and vendors across state lines. This announcement marks the second instance of cesium-related concerns tied to frozen shrimp within a fortnight, with both cases tracing back to the same foreign supplier, as reported by the State of Hawaii, Department of Health.
The tainted shrimp, it turns out, originated from abroad and fortunately were intercepted before making their way into U.S. markets. Despite no Cesium-137 positives in the domestic food chain, recall measures have been enacted in response to unsanitary conditions at the processing facility in question. Hawai‘i stores had received a small shipment, packaged predominantly in 1- and 2-pound bags, and local authorities are now working closely to pull these items from shelves to prevent consumer exposure, according to the alert issued by the State of Hawaii, Department of Health.
Cesium-137 is an artificial radioactive element that occasionally dots the Earth's environment in minute quantities. Higher concentrations, particularly in water and foodstuffs, can be a sign of environmental contamination and pose a risk of cancer if ingested repeatedly over time. As of now, there haven't been any sickness reports linked to the recall, but the Food and Drug Branch recommends that consumers cross-reference their purchases with the product details provided and refrain from consuming any of the recalled shrimp. Consumers can dial 425-896-0186 for additional queries regarding the recall from Sea Port Products Corp, as detailed by the State of Hawaii, Department of Health.
Shoppers should check shrimp packaging for the brand name, product description, UPC, and expiration date to see if their shrimp is part of the recall. If it is, they should throw it away or return it for a refund. No illnesses have been reported, so the recall is just a precaution. The State of Hawaii, Department of Health and Sea Port Products are being careful to keep everyone safe.
