FDA and Walmart Recall “Radioactive” Shrimp Amid Consumer Warning

August 19, 2025 – Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers and retailers to stop selling, serving, or eating specific lots of Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp from Walmart. This follows the discovery of Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in shipping containers and in one sample of breaded shrimp from Indonesia.

The FDA advisory states that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) found Cesium-137 in containers at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami. The FDA’s lab tests found Cs-137 in breaded shrimp from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods) in Indonesia. However, the contaminated shrimp did not reach the U.S. market.

Levels at about 68 Bq/kg are well below the FDA’s 1,200 Bq/kg threshold. Still, officials warned that long-term exposure, even at low levels, could increase cancer risk. This is due to possible DNA damage in living cells. The FDA recommends that Walmart recall all lots imported after the first detection, no matter the test results. They also added BMS Foods to a new import alert for chemical contamination. This is to stop further entries.

Affected products are three lot codes of Great Value frozen raw shrimp. They have a Best by Date of March 15, 2027.

• Lot 8005540-1
• Lot 8005538-1
• Lot 8005539-1

These items went to Walmart stores in: - Alabama - Arkansas - Florida - Georgia - Kentucky - Louisiana - Missouri - Mississippi - Ohio - Oklahoma - Pennsylvania - Texas - West Virginia. If you bought any of these products, please throw them away right away. Then, contact Walmart for a refund.

A Walmart spokesperson said the company is working with suppliers to find the contamination source. They have also taken the affected shrimp off the shelves. The FDA is working with CBP and Indonesian authorities. They aim to trace the root cause. This will help prevent any more potentially contaminated seafood from reaching U.S. consumers.