The Full Story
The FDA issued an urgent advisory on August 19, 2025, warning the public not to eat, sell, or serve certain Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp sold at Walmart after federal officials detected the radioactive isotope Cesium 137 in the product. The contamination was first identified by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which detected Cesium 137 in shipping containers arriving at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah. The FDA then conducted its own testing and confirmed the presence of the radioactive material in at least one sample of breaded shrimp.
The affected shrimp was imported from Indonesia by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, which operates as BMS Foods. Walmart voluntarily recalled three specific lot codes of its Great Value frozen raw shrimp: 8005540 1, 8005538 1, and 8005539 1, all with a best by date of March 15, 2027. The products were sold in Walmart stores across 13 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.
How Dangerous Is Cesium 137
According to the FDA, the level of Cesium 137 detected in the shrimp was well below the agency's Derived Intervention Level and would not cause acute radiation sickness from a single serving. However, health experts warn that long term repeated exposure to Cesium 137 could raise the risk of cancer due to DNA damage. The FDA noted that the shrimp may have been "prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions" that could have led to the contamination.
Cesium 137 is a man made radioactive isotope produced through nuclear reactions. Its presence in food products is extremely unusual and raised immediate alarm bells among food safety advocates and consumers. The fact that it was detected in a product sold at the nation's largest retailer made the story even more alarming and sent it viral across social media within hours of the announcement.
What You Should Do If You Bought The Shrimp
The FDA and Walmart are advising anyone who purchased the affected shrimp to throw it away immediately or return it to Walmart for a full refund. Do not eat or serve the product under any circumstances. Walmart released a statement saying, "The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority," and confirmed that the product has been removed from all affected stores.
The FDA has also issued an import alert to block any further products from BMS Foods from entering the United States. The agency is conducting an ongoing investigation in coordination with Indonesian seafood authorities to determine the source of the contamination and whether additional products may be affected.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Risk | Possible Cesium 137 contamination. Low levels but long term exposure could raise cancer risk |
| Products Affected | Great Value frozen raw shrimp, Lot codes: 8005540 1, 8005538 1, 8005539 1 (Best by: 3/15/2027) |
| Affected States | AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, OH, OK, PA, TX, WV |
| FDA Action | Recall recommendation, import alert, ongoing investigation |
| Walmart Actions | Sales restriction, product removal, refund option, supplier investigation |
Radioactive Shrimp Sounds Wild But The Response Was Swift
The phrase "radioactive shrimp" sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but the FDA's quick response and Walmart's voluntary recall demonstrate that food safety authorities took the situation seriously from the moment the contamination was detected. The coordination between Customs and Border Protection, the FDA, and Walmart shows how the system is supposed to work when potentially dangerous products make it into the supply chain. If you have any concerns about exposure, the FDA recommends consulting your healthcare provider.
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