The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a “do not eat or sell” warning after radioactive contamination was discovered in shrimp products bound for Walmart stores. The alert comes after U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) flagged suspicious containers at major ports, sparking an urgent federal investigation.
According to the FDA, Cesium-137 (Cs-137)—a man-made radioactive material created during nuclear reactions—was detected in frozen, breaded shrimp shipped from Indonesia. The contamination was identified in shipments that passed through Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah. Lab testing confirmed Cs-137 in at least one sample.
The implicated supplier, PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods), has been placed on the FDA’s “red list,” banning its seafood products from U.S. entry until further notice. Officials believe the shrimp was prepared or stored under unsanitary conditions, leading to contamination.
Walmart acknowledged that some potentially contaminated raw frozen shrimp reached its stores but emphasized swift action. “The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” the company said in a statement. Walmart confirmed that affected products were pulled from shelves, and sales restrictions have been issued while it works with suppliers to investigate.
The FDA has specifically warned against consuming Great Value raw frozen shrimp with lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1. Consumers are urged to throw away any products matching these codes immediately.
While trace amounts of Cs-137 exist naturally in soil and food, unexpected findings in seafood raise red flags for health risks. The FDA said it is continuing to work with Indonesian regulators and U.S. ports to trace the contamination and ensure no additional shipments reach the public.
BMS Foods has not commented on the matter. The investigation remains ongoing.
