Walmart recalls radioactive shrimp

A recall of Great Value shrimp linked to a radioactive finding tests consumer trust and shows how regulators respond to imported food safety incidents.

Walmart recalls radioactive shrimp after public warnings

Walmart has issued a recall of Great Value shrimp sold in multiple states after a shipment tied to an Indonesian supplier tested positive for Caesium-137, a radioactive isotope. The retailer says it has issued a sales restriction and removed the product from affected stores, and consumers who bought the recalled shrimp can obtain a full refund at any Walmart location. The notice covers Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia.

The Food and Drug Administration said one shipment tested positive for Caesium-137. Officials stressed that the detected amount was not enough to cause acute harm, but they cautioned that exposure over time could raise cancer risk by damaging living cells. The FDA also noted that no Caesium-137 had been detected in other products it tested, but this did not rule out contamination elsewhere. The Indonesian supplier has had several shipments denied entry to the United States as investigators review the case.

This episode tests how a major retailer handles a health scare that originates outside the country. It highlights the fragility of global seafood supply chains and the challenge of communicating uncertainty to consumers. The FDA’s careful language — confirming a single positive test while warning that ongoing risk remains possible — shows how officials balance speed with precision when information is incomplete. For Walmart, the recall is a reputational moment that could ripple through trust in store-brand products and supplier vetting.

If more batches are flagged, critics may press for tougher testing and clearer public guidance. The incident also raises questions about who bears the cost of safer imports and how quickly retailers can reassure shoppers after a scare. Regulators face pressure to prevent contagion in the food system while minimizing unnecessary alarm in the public sphere.

Highlights

Health checks and supply chain safeguards will be under renewed scrutiny as updates emerge.