Urgent FDA Recall: Radioactive Shrimp Sold at Walmart!

Eat shrimp?? Check your freezers! The FDA just announced a major food recall you’ll want to pay attention to! Certain bags of raw frozen shrimp sold at Walmart under the Great Value brand may be contaminated with Cesium-137 (Cs-137), a radioactive isotope.

Why This Matters?

• How it was discovered: U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged suspicious shipments at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami. Follow-up FDA testing confirmed traces of Cs-137 in at least one sample of breaded shrimp.
• Health concerns: While the radiation levels were below the threshold for immediate danger, experts warn that repeated exposure—even at low doses—can damage DNA and raise long-term cancer risks.
• Processing issues: The shrimp came from Indonesian supplier PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods). Officials say unsanitary handling conditions may have increased contamination risks.

What Products Are Being Recalled?

• Brand: Great Value (Walmart’s store brand)
• Product: Raw frozen “EZ Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp” (2-lb bags)
• Lot codes: 8005540-1, 8005538-1, 8005539-1
• Best-by date: March 15, 2027
• Where it was sold: 13 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia

Here’s What To Do If You Bought This Shrimp

1. Check your freezer immediately for the recalled lot codes.
2. Do not eat it. Toss the shrimp right away.
3. Get your money back. Walmart is offering full refunds and has already pulled the affected bags from shelves.
4. Talk to your doctor if you think you may have eaten the shrimp and are worried about exposure.

The FDA has placed BMS Foods on an import alert, blocking future shipments until the contamination issue is resolved. U.S. regulators are also working with Indonesian officials to determine how radioactive shrimp ended up in the supply chain in the first place.

If you’ve got Great Value frozen shrimp hiding in your freezer, check those lot codes, toss the shrimp, and head to Walmart for your refund — unless you were hoping for superhero powers.