The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning regarding frozen shrimp sold under Walmart's Great Value label after soil contamination fears surfaced due to detected radioactive isotopes in a shipment. Although the FDA confirmed that a tested sample of breaded shrimp contained the dangerous Caesium-137 isotope, this specific sample had not entered the U.S. market. Consumers in 13 states are advised to discard any shrimp from the implicated batches. The affected states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. A Walmart spokesperson emphasized their commitment to customer safety, stating that the product has been removed from stores and a sales restriction is in place. Customers can return any recalled shrimp for a full refund. The tank shrimp in question were sourced from a supplier in Indonesia, which has faced shipping denials by U.S. authorities. Officials warned that while the levels of Caesium-137 found were not immediately dangerous, prolonged exposure could elevate cancer risks. This isotope originates from nuclear reactions and is known to exist in trace amounts worldwide, particularly linked to past nuclear incidents in Chernobyl and Fukushima.
The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority, a Walmart spokesperson told the BBC.
Walmart has issued a recall on shrimp products amid radiation concerns detected in a shipment.
