The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat, sell, or serve certain imported frozen shrimp from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian firm. The agency has found that the company’s products may have been contaminated with cesium-137, a radioactive substance.
A recall has been added to the list of affected products, which were sold at Walmart stores in several states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. The affected products include Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp with lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1.
The FDA is investigating reports of cesium-137 contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati. While no contaminated products have entered the US commerce, the agency has determined that the company’s product preparation, packaging, or storage conditions may have led to contamination with Cs-137.
Consumers who have purchased affected products should discard them immediately. Distributors and retailers should also dispose of these products and not sell or serve them. If you suspect you have been exposed to elevated levels of cesium-137, talk to your healthcare provider.
The FDA has taken swift action to prevent potentially contaminated products from entering the US market. The agency has posted a new import alert and is working with Indonesian seafood regulatory authorities to investigate the root cause of the contamination.
For more information on Cs-137 and its potential health impacts, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry resources.
Source: https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-public-not-eat-sell-or-serve-certain-imported-frozen-shrimp-indonesian-firm