83,000 Bags of Frozen Shrimp Recalled Over Possible Radioactive Contamination: FDA

The latest recall impacts Washington state-based Direct Source Seafood LLC products sold at various locations.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in White Oak, Md., on June 5, 2023.Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed a recall of more than 83,000 bags of raw frozen shrimp for potential radioactive contamination, expanding actions taken against shrimp products that were imported from Indonesia.

According to an announcement last week, Washington state-based Direct Source Seafood LLC is recalling 83,800 bags of frozen raw shrimp sold under the Market 32 and Waterfront Bistro brand names “because they may have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with” radioactive cesium-137, or Cs-137.

“Traces of Cs-137 are widespread and can be present in the environment at background levels, and at higher levels in water or foods grown, raised, or produced in areas with environmental contamination,” said the company through the FDA’s website.

“The primary health effect of concern following longer term, repeated low dose exposure (e.g., through consumption of contaminated food or water over time) is an elevated risk of cancer, resulting from damage to DNA within living cells of the body.”

Stores that carried the shrimp include Price Chopper, Albertsons, Safeway, Jewel-Osco, and Lucky Supermarket, it said.

The shrimp was sold in locations in Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Wyoming, and Vermont, according to the recall statement.

The shrimp products sold by Price Chopper were packaged in 1-pound bags with UPC codes 0 41735 and 01358 3. Other stores had 2-pound bags that had codes 021130 and 13224-9.

“Consumers who have purchased affected shrimp should not consume the product and should dispose of or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund,” the recall statement said.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the latest recall. No product that tested positive for Cs-137 has entered the U.S. marketplace, the FDA said.

The latest action marks an expansion of a recall of frozen shrimp products sourced by one Indonesian company due to the presence of Cs-137, a manmade isotope. The FDA said it is investigating reports of contamination in containers and frozen shipments produced by the company, PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, which is doing business as BMS Foods.

In August, Walmart recalled frozen raw shrimp sold in 13 states due to potential radioactive contamination. At the time, the FDA asked Walmart to pull three lots of Great Value brand frozen shrimp from stores.

In separate recalls announced earlier this year, Southwind Foods LLC, AquaStar Corp., Beaver Street Fisheries LLC, and H&N Group Inc. recalled numerous lots and bags of shrimp sold in grocery stores due to potential contamination, the FDA said.

The FDA issued a safety alert in August warning consumers not to eat certain frozen shrimp imported from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati. The radioactive isotope was detected in shipping containers from the company sent to several U.S. ports, as well as in a sample of frozen breaded shrimp.

The FDA also posted an import alert to stop potentially contaminated shrimp from entering the United States. More than 3 million pounds of shrimp exported by BMS Foods have arrived at U.S. ports in September, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection records.

The level of cesium 137 detected in the frozen shrimp was about 68 becquerels per kilogram, a measure of radioactivity. That is far below the FDA’s level of 1,200 becquerels per kilogram that could trigger the need for health protections.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.