Walmart recalls shrimp over radioactive contamination fears
Walmart has pulled some of its frozen shrimp from shelves after U.S. officials raised concerns about possible radioactive contamination. The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, announced that certain shipments of shrimp sold under Walmart’s Great Value brand were flagged when a dangerous isotope was detected in containers coming into the country. While the FDA stressed that the single shrimp sample testing positive never made it into U.S. commerce, the agency still urged caution.
The isotope at the center of this recall is Cesium-137, a radioactive substance created during nuclear reactions. It has been associated with nuclear accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima, and although trace amounts can be found naturally in soil and food, any higher-than-expected level in seafood raises alarms. Exposure to this material over time can damage living cells, increasing the risk of cancer, even if the short-term threat to health is low.
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According to officials, the shrimp in question was imported from Indonesia, supplied by a company known as BMS Foods. Some of its shipments had already been stopped at U.S. ports including Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, after tests revealed contamination. The FDA has now banned products from this supplier until the issue is resolved. That means no new imports from the company will be allowed into the U.S. until safety concerns are cleared.
Walmart responded quickly once the advisory was issued. The company removed the potentially affected products from stores across 13 states, including Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Ohio, and urged customers to discard any recently purchased packages from the specified batches. Shoppers can bring receipts or even the recalled products themselves back to Walmart stores for a full refund. In a statement, a Walmart spokesperson emphasized that customer safety is always a top priority and confirmed the company is working with regulators and the supplier to investigate how this happened.
The FDA listed three specific lot codes tied to the recall, all with a “Best By” date of March 15, 2027. Consumers who find their frozen shrimp packages match these codes are advised not to eat them under any circumstances. Even though tests on other batches did not show radioactive material, regulators cautioned that contamination could not be completely ruled out.
What makes this situation especially concerning is that radioactive contamination in food is extremely rare, and the shrimp industry is already facing challenges with international trade and safety inspections. For now, health officials say no one has been harmed, but they are taking preventive steps to ensure no contaminated products reach dinner tables.
So, if you’ve recently stocked your freezer with Great Value shrimp, double-check those lot numbers. If your package is part of the recall, the safest move is simple—throw it away and get your refund. Better safe than sorry when it comes to something as serious as radiation exposure.
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