FDA Alerts: Potential Radioactive Risk in Walmart Frozen Shrimp

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a caution concerning Walmart's Great Value brand frozen shrimp, advising that certain batches should not be consumed due to a potential risk of radioactive contamination.

These shrimp are imported from Indonesian supplier PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati and are available under the Great Value label in Walmart stores. Although the FDA has advocated for a product recall, Walmart has yet to comment on this issue.

The concern arises from the possible presence of Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in these batches. Although no current shrimp products have returned positive results for this contaminant, the FDA's warning is based on detection in a single shrimp shipment that was intercepted before entering the U.S. market.

Specific Shrimp Batches Under FDA Attention

The FDA advises consumers to refrain from consuming certain lots of Walmart's Great Value frozen raw shrimp.

Action Steps for Purchased Shrimp

Consumers possessing the flagged shrimp should dispose of them immediately, as per FDA instructions.

The agency further recommends that retailers and distributors avoid selling or serving this product.

Understanding Cesium-137

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cesium-137 is a radioactive form of the element cesium, emerging as a byproduct of nuclear fission. It is utilized in medical devices and can result from nuclear reactors and weapons tests.

Evaluating the Risks: Cesium-137 in Shrimp

The detected level of Cesium-137 in the shrimp was approximately 68 Bq/kg. While this is beneath the FDA's 'levels of concern' for imported foods, it still warrants caution.

The FDA states that the current levels don't pose an immediate threat. However, prolonged exposure to low doses could heighten cancer risk due to potential DNA damage.

Avoiding products with comparable Cesium-137 levels is a precautionary measure to minimize long-term exposure to low-level radiation.