FDA warns some Walmart shrimp carry risk of radioactive contamination

Some frozen shrimp sold astatine Walmart nether the Great Value statement are astatine hazard of radioactive contamination and shouldn't beryllium consumed, according to a informing from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

The frozen shrimp were imported from Indonesian institution PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati and sold astatine Walmart stores arsenic Great Value marque frozen earthy shrimp, the FDA said connected Tuesday. The bureau noted it has recommended that Walmart callback the product. 

Walmart didn't instantly respond to a petition for comment. 

The shrimp could beryllium contaminated with a radioactive isotope called Cesium-137, though the FDA said that nary products arsenic of yet person tested affirmative for it. The bureau said it issued the informing astir Walmart's Great Value shrimp aft it had detected Cesium-137 successful a azygous shipment of frozen shrimp from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati. 

That shipment "did not participate U.S. commerce," the FDA said.

Here's what to cognize astir the warning. 

Which shrimp products are portion of the FDA warning?

The FDA said that consumers "should not devour oregon service definite tons of Great Value earthy frozen shrimp from Walmart."

The tons are:

• Great Value marque frozen earthy shrimp, batch code: 8005540-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027 
• Great Value marque frozen earthy shrimp, batch code: 8005538-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027 
• Great Value marque frozen earthy shrimp, batch code: 8005539-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027. 

What should you bash if you bought the shrimp?

Consumers who bought the shrimp cited successful the FDA's announcement should propulsion it away, the bureau said. 

"Distributors and retailers should dispose of this merchandise and should not merchantability oregon service this product," the FDA added. 

What is Cesium-137?

Cesium-137, oregon Cs-137, is the radioactive signifier of the constituent cesium, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Produced by atomic fission, it's utilized successful aesculapian devices and is besides a byproduct of atomic fission successful atomic reactors and weapons testing, the EPA notes. 

How unsafe is the imaginable Cesium-137 contamination?

The Cesium-137 detected successful the imported shrimp was astir 68 Bq/kg, which the FDA said sits beneath its threshold of 1200 Bq/kg for "levels of concern" for imported foods. 

"At this level, the merchandise would not airs an acute hazard to consumers," the FDA said successful its informing notice. 

However, the FDA noted that repeated low-dose vulnerability to Cesium-137 carries an "elevated hazard of cancer, resulting from harm to DNA wrong surviving cells of the body."

It added, "Avoiding products similar the shipment FDA tested with akin levels of Cs-137 is simply a measurement intended to trim vulnerability to low-level radiation that could person wellness impacts with continued vulnerability implicit a agelong play of time."

• Food and Drug Administration
• Walmart