The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a consumer advisory regarding specific batches of frozen shrimp products sold at Walmart locations nationwide. The agency is directing consumers to avoid eating, selling, or serving certain lots of Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp that may contain radioactive material.
The affected products are 2-pound packages of frozen raw White Vannamei shrimp with best-by dates of March 15, 2027. Consumers should check for lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1 on their packages. These items were distributed to Walmart stores across thirteen states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.
The shrimp products originated from Indonesian company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, doing business as BMS Foods. Federal authorities detected the potential contamination during routine screening procedures at major U.S. ports of entry.
Detection and Testing Process
U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel initially identified the concern while inspecting shipping containers at four major ports: Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami. Their testing equipment detected the presence of Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope commonly abbreviated as Cs-137.
Following the initial detection, FDA scientists conducted additional laboratory analysis on samples from the shipments. Their testing confirmed the presence of Cs-137 in one sample of breaded shrimp from BMS Foods, measuring approximately 68 becquerels per kilogram.
This measurement falls significantly below the FDA’s established Derived Intervention Level of 1,200 becquerels per kilogram. While the detected levels do not create an immediate health emergency, health officials note that extended exposure to low-level radiation carries potential long-term risks, including increased cancer susceptibility through cellular DNA damage.
Regulatory Response
Federal agencies prevented all affected shipments from entering commercial distribution channels in the United States. The FDA has determined that the shrimp were produced under conditions that violate sanitary standards required under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The agency has recommended that Walmart initiate a recall of the implicated products. Additionally, BMS Foods has been placed on import alert IA 99-51, which effectively blocks future shipments from the company until the contamination source is identified and resolved.
Consumer Guidance
The FDA advises consumers who have purchased the specified lot numbers to dispose of the products immediately. Retailers and food service establishments should not sell or serve these items under any circumstances.
Cesium-137 represents a man-made radioactive isotope produced through nuclear reactions. While trace amounts exist naturally in soil, food, and air worldwide, the FDA maintains monitoring protocols specifically designed to detect unintended radioactive materials in the food supply.
Federal investigators continue working with Indonesian authorities to determine the root cause of the contamination. The FDA has indicated it will provide updates as the investigation progresses and additional information becomes available.
