The FDA has issued a safety alert for specific batches of Great Value frozen raw shrimp sold at Walmart, after U.S. Customs detected Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in shipments from Indonesia’s BMS Foods. Although no contaminated shrimp entered the food supply, a recall is advised for lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1, best by 3/15/2027.
Walmart has recalled some of its shrimp products in the US after radioactive material was detected in a shipment of seafood.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public not to eat frozen shrimp sold under Walmart’s Great Value label could have been exposed to a dangerous isotope in shipping containers.
One sample of breaded shrimp tested positive for the substance, the FDA said, but this positive sample “did not enter US commerce”.
Consumers in 13 US states the shrimp products are sold have been advised to throw any recently bought products among three batches.
“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” a Walmart spokesperson told the BBC. “We have issued a sales restriction and removed this product from our impacted stores. We are working with the supplier to investigate.”
The spokesperson added that consumers who bought the recalled products could visit any Walmart location for a full refund.
The recalled shrimp was sold at Walmart locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia, and shoppers in those states were advised to be cautious.
FDA warns of potentially radioactive frozen shrimp sold at Walmart https://t.co/mYYyihv2B4
— The Hill (@thehill) August 19, 2025
It came from an Indonesian supplier that has since had a number of shipping containers denied entry to the US, the FDA said.
One shipment tested positive for Caesium-137, the radioactive form of the periodic element Caesium.
The amount contained in the tested shipment held by the FDA was not enough to pose acute harm to consumers, exposure over time could pose an elevated risk of cancer by damaging living cells in the body, said officials from the agency.
Caesium-137 is made through nuclear reactions and is present in trace amounts in soil, food and air worldwide. It is one of the principal sources of radiation around Chernobyl in Ukraine and Fukushima in Japan.
The FDA said no Caesium-137 had been detected in the other products it tested, but cautioned this did not rule out contamination.
which packs to avoid?
The specific products under scrutiny include:
Great Value frozen raw shrimp, lot code 8005540-1, Best by 3/15/2027
Great Value frozen raw shrimp, lot code 8005538-1, Best by 3/15/2027
Great Value frozen raw shrimp, lot code 8005539-1, Best by 3/15/2027
what to do if you already bought?
“If you have recently purchased frozen raw shrimp from Walmart matching these codes, discard it immediately,” the FDA stated. Retailers and distributors have also been advised to remove the products from their shelves.
The FDA explained that shrimp from BMS Foods violates the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act because it may have been prepared or stored under unsanitary conditions, potentially exposing it to Cesium-137. As a result, all future shipments from the company are banned until safety concerns are addressed.
Cesium-137, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a silvery-white metal that can form into a crystalline powder. Exposure to high levels can lead to radiation burns, acute radiation sickness, and even death.
The FDA emphasized that the recall is preventive but urged consumers to remain cautious. Those who have already purchased the listed shrimp should not attempt to cook or wash it to “remove contamination” — instead, it must be safely discarded.
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