(WDNews)Following the discovery of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) traces in imported shipments by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the FDA is looking into claims of contamination in frozen shrimp products offered at Walmart.
Shipping containers that arrived in Savannah, Miami, Houston, and Los Angeles tested positive for the radioactive material, the FDA said in a release. The Cs-137 level in one breaded shrimp sample was 68 Bq/kg. Although the level does not now provide a health danger, the EPA cautioned that prolonged exposure may be detrimental.
An Indonesian company called PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati processed the impacted shrimp. Although no tainted goods have made it to the American market, the FDA suggested a recall, stating that the shipments might have been manufactured, packed, or stored in an unhygienic manner.
The following Walmart Great Value frozen raw shrimp products are subject to the recall:
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8005540-1 lot code, best by March 15, 2027
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8005538-1 lot code, best by March 15, 2027
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8005539-1 lot code, best by March 15, 2027
8005540-1 lot code, best by March 15, 2027
8005538-1 lot code, best by March 15, 2027
8005539-1 lot code, best by March 15, 2027
In Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia, a few Walmart locations carried the shrimp.
It is recommended that consumers discard any products that fit the recall criteria. The FDA says it is working with Customs officers to prohibit any further hazardous shipments, and Walmart has put up a notice on its website.
Nuclear fission produces Cs-137, which is used in industrial gauges and medical devices. Inappropriate exposure can result in burns, radiation illness, or long-term cancer risks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
