New Recall of Potentially Radioactive Cocktail Shrimp in 27 US States

Repeated exposure through consumption of contaminated food is linked to an elevated risk of cancer and DNA damage.

A package of frozen shrimp potentially affected by radioactive contamination. U.S. Food and Drug Association via AP

The Food and Drug Administration announced on Aug. 28 a new recall of cocktail shrimp sold in Walmart stores across 27 states for potential contamination due to being prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions where they may have become contaminated with cesium-137 (Cs-137).

Seattle-based AquaStar (USA) Corp is recalling approximately 26,460 6-ounce packages of cocktail shrimp, imported from Indonesia, and sold between July 31 and Aug. 16.

The states in which they have been sold are Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin,

A day earlier, on Aug. 27, the FDA issued a similar recall warning for frozen cooked shrimp sold across 17 states. In that instance, the importer, Aquastar, had recalled approximately 18,000 bags (net weight 2 pounds) of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp.

Both recalls are an expansion of recent recalls by Walmart and other distributors.

Cs-137 is a man-made radioisotope of the extremely reactive metal cesium, the FDA said.

Traces of Cs-137 are widespread and can be present at higher levels in water or foods grown, raised, or produced in areas with environmental contamination.

Exposure to stable or radioactive Cs-137 happens when an individual ingests contaminated food or liquids, or even breathes in contaminated air, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

High levels of radioactive cesium in or near the body can result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, coma, and death.

The FDA warned that repeated low-dose exposure to Cs-137 through consuming contaminated food can increase the risk of cancer and result in damage to DNA.

The latest Walmart products recalled were sold in refrigerated conditions, have a 12-day shelf life, and have various “Best By” dates, the FDA said.

The 6-ounce batches of cocktail shrimp were packaged in a clear plastic tray and have a red and white label with UPC 19434612191 and lot codes 10662 5106, 10662 5107, 10662 5124, and 10662 5125 printed at the bottom of the tray.

Kroger Mercado Recall

The recalled Kroger Mercado shrimp products were sold at Baker’s, Gerbes, Jay C, Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Supermarkets, and Pick ‘n Save between July 24 and Aug. 11.

The states in which they were sold are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

Mercado is Kroger’s exclusive private label grocery brand, mostly dealing in Latin American food products.

All shrimp involved in both recalls were processed by the Indonesian company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (doing business as BMS Foods).

Along with investigating the products, the FDA is actively investigating reports of Cs-137 contamination in shipping containers in which the products were transported.

The recalled Kroger products weighed 2 pounds, packaged in clear plastic bags with a white label on top of each bag, and have the following codes: UPC 011110626196, lot code 10662 5139, and a “Best By” date of Nov. 19, 2027; and UPC 011110626196, lot code 10662 5140, and a “Best By” date of Nov. 20, 2027.

No illnesses have been reported to date, the FDA said.

The Epoch Times reached out to Kroger and Walmart for comment, but did not receive a response by publication time.

Consumers who have purchased the affected shrimp are requested not to consume it, but instead dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

On Aug. 26, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that federal health authorities are taking a closer look at shrimp being imported into the United States after the FDA issued warnings about potentially radioactive shrimp that were recalled last week.

“We have now increased FDA inspections of shrimp to make sure that Americans are not eating ... contaminated shrimp,” Kennedy said at a Cabinet meeting.

Kennedy also said that South Asian countries “are now dumping shrimp on our country, and the shrimp is heavily contaminated” and that “we just stopped a shipment that was contaminated with [Cesium-137].”

“They’re farming these shrimps, and they’re using bactericides and antibiotics and all kinds of chemicals, and the shrimp are so contaminated. The European nations won’t take them, so they’re dumping them all here. We have the most sustainable and most highly regulated fishing industry in the world. What our fishermen do is a good thing. And all of the trawlers in the Gulf and in Alaska are being shut down,” Kennedy said.

Jack Philips contributed to this report.