When we hear about food recalls, we think of Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli. Few people expect a warning about radioactive shrimp, but that's exactly what happened.
On August 19, the FDA issued a nationwide alert. Three batches of Great Value frozen raw shrimp are being urgently recalled from the market. The batch codes are:
8005540-1
8005538-1
8005539-1
All have the expiration date 03/15/2027.
If you opened your freezer and see any of these numbers, the message is clear: throw them away and request a refund. It's better to lose a few dollars than risk your health over cesium-137, a synthetic radioactive isotope.
How the problem arose
Every container arriving at a U.S. port passes through radiation detectors. Earlier this year, several shipments of shrimp imported from Indonesia triggered the alarms.
Laboratory tests detected cesium-137 levels of about 68 Bq/kg (68 Bq/kg). This is well below the FDA's intervention limit of 1200 Bq/kg (1200 Bq/kg), but enough to justify caution.
The investigation traced the shrimp to the processor PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods). The recalled batches could have been exposed to contamination during processing.
That's why the FDA decided to act immediately. The company is now under Import Alert 99-51, blocking new entries until the situation is solved.
Affected states
These shrimp reached Walmart stores in 13 states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- West Virginia
If you bought shrimp in any of these places, check the box. The code is near the nutrition information. If it matches the mentioned batches, discard the product and request your refund.
Radioactive, but with caution
Cesium-137 doesn't naturally occur in seafood. It's a byproduct of nuclear fission and emits gamma radiation. It has a half-life of 30 years, so it persists in the environment.
The detected levels are low, but chronic consumption could increase the long-term risk of cancer. The FDA assures that no shrimp with confirmed cesium-137 reached the stores. However, the recalled batches could have been near the contaminated ones; in food safety, "maybe" isn't enough.
What to do if your shrimp match
- Check the code: 8005540-1, 8005538-1, 8005539-1.
- Dispose of the contents: use a sealed bag and throw them in the trash. Don't cook or compost them.
- Keep the empty package: take it to Walmart for a refund.
- Clean the freezer: warm water and soap remove any remaining juices.
Radioactive shrimp isn't something anyone wants in their groceries. Thanks to early detection, a bigger problem was avoided. A bag of shrimp is replaceable; your health isn't.