FDA Warns Public Not to Eat Potentially Radioactive Shrimp
It said the warning affects the Great Value brand of raw frozen shrimp sold at the superstore, adding that anyone who purchased the product should dispose of it.
A statement from the agency said the FDA was 'actively investigating reports of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products' in a shipment from Indonesia.
It said that the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) had detected Cs-137 in shipping containers at four U.S. ports: Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami.
The FDA added that although it had not confirmed the presence of contamination in any commercial product in the United States, the shrimp products appear 'to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern.'
'If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, throw it away. Do not eat or serve this product,' the FDA statement added.
The FDA said limited exposure to Cs-137 can cause 'an elevated risk of cancer, resulting from damage to DNA within living cells of the body.'
The FDA has recommended that Walmart recall this product.
TIME has contacted Walmart for a response.
This is a developing story.
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Business Insider
21 minutes ago
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'Throw it away,' says the FDA to shoppers who may have bought Walmart shrimp exposed to radioactive contamination
FDA warns shoppers against eating Great Value frozen shrimp from Walmart due to possible exposure to Cesium-137. FDA warns shoppers against eating Great Value frozen shrimp from Walmart due to possible exposure to Cesium-137. Siddharth Cavale/REUTERS FDA warns shoppers against eating Great Value frozen shrimp from Walmart due to possible exposure to Cesium-137. Siddharth Cavale/REUTERS lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. You may want to put down your fork for this. The Food and Drug Administration is warning shoppers not to eat, sell, or serve the Great Value raw frozen shrimp sold at Walmart after Customs and Border Protection officials detected possible contamination from Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope. "If you recently purchased one of the impacted lots of Great Value raw frozen shrimp from Walmart, throw it away," wrote FDA officials in a statement on Tuesday. The CBP initially flagged the presence of Cesium-137 after screening shipping containers at four domestic ports. The FDA said in a press release that radioactive testing on shrimp from the Indonesian distributor BMS Foods also came back positive. So far, none of the shrimp tested as radioactive is believed to have reached grocery store shelves, but a few containers from BMS Foods did reach grocers after the CBP's initial detection. The FDA is now recommending a recall of all BMS Foods shipments. The agency has also temporarily blocked imports from the company after finding that it has violated the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act by handling products under conditions that could expose them to radioactive contamination. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Cesium-137 is a byproduct of nuclear fission, which can cause burns, acute radiation sickness, and even death with significant exposure. Food recalls due to radioactive contamination are relatively rare. After the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan, the FDA restricted imports of certain seafood and produce from affected regions due to Cesium-137 exposure and did not fully lift the restrictions until 2021. Walmart did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
CNN
22 minutes ago
- CNN
FDA warns against eating certain shrimp sold at Walmart amid investigation into radioactive contamination
Federal agencies Food & healthFacebookTweetLink Follow The US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday urged the public not to eat certain bags of frozen raw shrimp sold at Walmart, citing concerns about unsanitary conditions and radioactive contamination found in shipments from the same supplier. The FDA said that a radioactive isotope, cesium-137, was detected in a sample of breaded shrimp detained at US ports – in Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami – from an Indonesian supplier named BMS Foods. Those contaminated shipments never reached the US market. However, because Walmart's raw frozen shrimp came from the same supplier – and the agency said it 'appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137' – officials advised consumers to avoid eating them. The levels of cesium detected – about 68 becquerels per kilogram – were well below the FDA's intervention level of 1,200 Bq/kg. Still, regulators issued the advisory out of caution, citing the potential risks of cancer from long-term, low-dose exposure and problems at the supplier's facility. The advisory applies to 2-pound Great Value bags of white vannamei shrimp, all carrying a best-by date of March 15, 2027. They were distributed to Walmart stores in at least 13 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. The agency is advising consumers who purchased the shrimp to throw it away or return it, and, said an investigation is ongoing in conjunction with Indonesian seafood regulatory authorities. Walmart confirmed to CNN that it 'immediately recalled the product from impacted stores.' CNN has also reached out to the supplier for comment.
CNN
23 minutes ago
- CNN
FDA warns against eating certain shrimp sold at Walmart amid investigation into radioactive contamination
The US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday urged the public not to eat certain bags of frozen raw shrimp sold at Walmart, citing concerns about unsanitary conditions and radioactive contamination found in shipments from the same supplier. The FDA said that a radioactive isotope, cesium-137, was detected in a sample of breaded shrimp detained at US ports – in Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami – from an Indonesian supplier named BMS Foods. Those contaminated shipments never reached the US market. However, because Walmart's raw frozen shrimp came from the same supplier – and the agency said it 'appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137' – officials advised consumers to avoid eating them. The levels of cesium detected – about 68 becquerels per kilogram – were well below the FDA's intervention level of 1,200 Bq/kg. Still, regulators issued the advisory out of caution, citing the potential risks of cancer from long-term, low-dose exposure and problems at the supplier's facility. The advisory applies to 2-pound Great Value bags of white vannamei shrimp, all carrying a best-by date of March 15, 2027. They were distributed to Walmart stores in at least 13 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. The agency is advising consumers who purchased the shrimp to throw it away or return it, and, said an investigation is ongoing in conjunction with Indonesian seafood regulatory authorities. Walmart confirmed to CNN that it 'immediately recalled the product from impacted stores.' CNN has also reached out to the supplier for comment.
