FDA recalls Walmart shrimp due to radiation contamination and cancer risks

Walmart shrimp recall overview:

• Who: Southwind Foods and Beaver Street Fisheries are recalling frozen shrimp products processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, affecting multiple brands.
• Why: The recall is due to potential contamination with Cesium-137 (Cs-137), a radioactive substance.
• Where: The recall is active in multiple states across the United States, including Alabama, Arizona, Florida, and others.

The FDA has issued an urgent recall notice for frozen shrimp products processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian firm, due to potential contamination with Cesium-137 (Cs-137). 

The recall affects several brands, including Great Value products sold at Walmart. The recall was initiated after the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detected Cs-137 in shipping containers at major U.S. ports.

The recall was announced on Aug. 21 by Southwind Foods LLC and on Aug. 22 by Beaver Street Fisheries LLC. 

The affected products include various raw and cooked frozen shrimp sold between July 17 and August 8, 2025, in Walmart stores in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia.

According to the recall, the shrimp may have been prepared under insanitary conditions, posing a potential safety risk due to Cs-137 contamination.

 “At this level, the product would not pose an acute hazard to consumers,” the FDA says.

Shrimp may pose long-term cancer risks, FDA warns

The FDA’s investigation into the potential contamination of shrimp products with Cs-137 is ongoing.

The radioactive substance was detected in a shipment of breaded shrimp, with levels measured at 68 Bq/kg, which is below the FDA’s intervention level of 1200 Bq/kg.

However, the FDA has expressed concerns about the long-term health effects of repeated low-dose exposure to Cs-137, which could increase cancer risk due to DNA damage.

“The agency continues to coordinate with CBP to prevent any contaminated products from reaching consumers,” the FDA said.

The FDA has recommended that consumers who have purchased the affected Walmart shrimp recall products should dispose of them immediately and not consume them. Retailers and distributors are also advised to remove these products from their shelves. 

The agency is working with Indonesian authorities to address the root cause of the contamination and has placed PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati on an import alert to prevent further shipments until the issue is resolved.

For more information about the Walmart recall, consumers can visit the FDA’s website or contact Walmart directly through their customer service channels.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled shrimp products so far. Walmart is not currently facing any legal action over the recall, but Top Class Actions monitors such recalls closely as they sometimes lead to class action lawsuits.

In other food recall news, DFA Dairy Brands recalled a limited quantity of Friendly’s Cookies & Cream Ice Cream on Aug. 5 due to undeclared soy and wheat allergens from a mislabeling error that could lead to severe allergic reactions.

Are you affected by this Walmart shrimp recall? Let us know in the comments.

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