Walmart is recalling frozen shrimp in 13 U.S. states after federal officials raised concerns about radioactive contamination. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested the recall of three batches of Great Value brand shrimp after Cesium-137, a radioactive substance, was detected in shipping containers and in a product sample from Indonesia. The affected shrimp carried the codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1, with best-by dates of March 15, 2027. The products were sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. According to FDA experts, long-term exposure to small amounts of Cesium-137 may present health risks, though the danger in this case is considered low.

Investigations showed that the shrimp came from P.T. Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian supplier known as BMS Foods. Earlier, U.S. Customs officials had found Cesium-137 in containers that arrived at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah. Later tests confirmed the isotope in one shrimp sample, but at levels well below the standard for intervention. Food safety expert Donald Schaffner explained that the health risk is small but emphasized that precaution is important. Cesium-137, a byproduct of nuclear activity, can already be found in very small amounts in soil, air, and food worldwide. Regulators are now considering stricter monitoring and tighter inspections to prevent similar cases and protect public health.