US retailer Walmart has issued a recall for some of its frozen shrimp products due to potential radioactive contamination. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that the seafood items, sold under the Great Value label, may be contaminated with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope.
The affected products were imported from Indonesian company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati and sold at Walmart stores as Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp. The FDA has recommended that Walmart recall these products due to the risk of radiation exposure.
Consumers who purchased the recalled shrimp should discard them immediately and contact their local store for a full refund. No products have tested positive for Cesium-137, but the agency is taking precautions to minimize potential health risks.
The affected products include:
* Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005540-1
* Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005538-1
* Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005539-1
All of these products were sold with a best-by date of March 15, 2027. The FDA notes that the levels of Cesium-137 detected in the imported shrimp are below its threshold for “levels of concern” for imported foods. However, repeated low-dose exposure to Cesium-137 carries an elevated risk of cancer.
The agency is advising consumers to avoid products with similar levels of Cs-137 and take measures to reduce exposure to low-level radiation over time.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/walmart-great-value-shrimp-radioactive-contamination-cesium-137-fda