FDA Warns Public Not to Eat ‘Radioactive’ Shrimp from Walmart

The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to avoid eating or serving certain Great Value raw frozen shrimp sold at Walmart after detecting possible contamination with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope.

According to an FDA press release on Tuesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged the issue after detecting traces of Cesium-137 in shipping containers from Indonesian distributor BMS Foods at four U.S. ports. Further testing on frozen shrimp from the company also came back positive for the isotope.

While the FDA confirmed that no contaminated shrimp has entered the U.S. food supply, officials are urging the public to take precautions and avoid several specific Great Value brand products distributed by BMS Foods. The recalled items include:

• Great Value frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005540-1, Best by: 3/15/2027
• Great Value frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005538-1, Best by: 3/15/2027
• Great Value frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005539-1, Best by: 3/15/2027

“If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, throw it away,” the FDA advised.

All BMS Foods products shipped after the affected containers were flagged are being recalled, and the company’s imports are currently banned from entering the U.S. until the underlying issues are resolved.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Cesium-137 is a radioactive material that, in large amounts, can cause burns, acute radiation sickness, and even death.

The FDA says it is working closely with Walmart and other distributors to ensure the potentially affected products are removed from shelves and that no contaminated shrimp reaches consumers.