Walmart Pulls Shrimp in 13 States After Radiation Scare

Walmart is yanking bags of its Great Value frozen shrimp off shelves in 13 states after federal officials flagged possible radioactive contamination.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said tests picked up Cesium-137 — a radioactive isotope that comes from nuclear reactions — in shipping containers and one sample of shrimp imported from Indonesia.

The shrimp recall affects three specific lot codes of frozen raw shrimp, all with best-by dates of March 15, 2027. Shoppers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia are being told to toss the shrimp or return it for a refund.

“If you bought raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, don’t eat it. Throw it away,” the FDA said.

Food safety experts stressed the immediate risk is low. The levels of Cesium-137 detected were well below federal thresholds for intervention, according to the FDA. Still, repeated low-dose exposure to radioactive material could pose long-term health risks, including a slightly elevated cancer risk.

“From a food safety standpoint, this risk is quite low,” said Donald Schaffner, a Rutgers University expert.

The FDA said US Customs and Border Protection first spotted contamination in shrimp containers arriving at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Savannah. One sample of breaded shrimp tested positive, though that batch never hit US store shelves.

The problem appears to trace back to Indonesian seafood supplier PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods). The FDA has now restricted imports from the company while it investigates.

Walmart said it pulled the shrimp as soon as the FDA flagged the issue.

“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” the company said in a statement.

The FDA emphasized that none of the shrimp currently on Walmart shelves has tested positive for radiation, but the recall is out of caution. The agency’s investigation — including cooperation with Indonesian regulators — is ongoing.

For now, the advice is simple: check your freezer, dump the shrimp if you’ve got it, and grab a refund at Walmart.

The Guardian, BBC, and the Washington Post contributed to this report.