FDA alerts on Walmart shrimp safety

FDA warns consumers not to eat two-pound bags of Great Value shrimp sold at Walmart after detecting unsanitary conditions and cesium-137 linked to the supplier.

FDA warns against eating certain shrimp sold at Walmart amid investigation into radioactive contamination

On Tuesday the FDA urged consumers not to eat two-pound bags of Great Value frozen white shrimp sold at Walmart. The agency said a radioactive isotope, cesium-137, was found in shipments tied to the Indonesian supplier BMS Foods and that these conditions may have allowed contamination. The affected shipments were detained at several ports and did not reach the United States market, but regulators advised avoiding the Walmart product because it may have been prepared, packed, or stored under insanitary conditions.

The detected cesium-137 level was about 68 becquerels per kilogram, well below the FDA intervention limit of 1,200 Bq/kg. Still, the advisory was issued out of caution because of the potential cancer risk from long-term, low-dose exposure. The bags were distributed to at least 13 states and Walmart recalled the product. An investigation is ongoing with Indonesian authorities.

Global supply chains are under the lens as this episode shows how safety worries travel fast. Officials say a low dose of a radioactive element still matters when it comes to trust. The case also highlights how quickly a retailer acts when a risk is flagged and how cross border scrutiny follows a supplier incident.

Looking ahead, regulators may push for tighter vetting of suppliers and clearer messaging about recalls. For shoppers, the episode underlines that what matters is not only the price but the safety behind the product they bring home.

Highlights

Regulators will watch how retailers tighten oversight after this episode.