The FDA is calling out a peculiar issue for shoppers with this imported product. Here are critical details.
Walmart shoppers know the retailer’s Great Value products tend to live up to the name, offering everyday items such as condiments, coffee, frozen foods, or more, all at an affordable price.
But in an advisory notice posted early Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public about “certain raw frozen shrimp products” processed by “Bahari Makmur Sejati (doing business as BMS Foods), a company located in Indonesia, and sold at Walmart.” The FDA recommended Walmart recall the shrimp, which were sold under the Walmart-owned brand name of Great Value.
The FDA provided the following product details:
- Great Value Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp, Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag, Best By: 3/15/2027, Item Code: 7383108, Lot Code: 8005540-1, Distributor: Walmart
- Great Value Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag, Best By: 3/15/2027, Item Code: 7383108, Lot Code: 8005538-1, Distributor: Walmart
- Great Value Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag, Best By: 3/15/2027, Item Code: 7383108, Lot Code: 8005539-1, Distributor: Walmart
Walmart also posted information indicating the recalled shrimp was “sold at select Walmart stores in the following states”: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.
According to the alert, the shrimp “may have become contaminated with Cs-137,” which is human-made through nucleur reactions and can be found in “trace amounts” in soil, food, and air. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the “most common radioactive form of cesium is Cs-137.”
But there is some encouraging news from the FDA: The detected Cs-137 was found in “a single shipment of imported frozen shrimp” that reportedly did not enter U.S. commerce. As further explained by the agency: “FDA collected multiple samples for radionuclide analysis, with results confirming the presence of Cs-137 in one sample of breaded shrimp. All containers and product testing positive or alerting for Cs-137 have been denied entry into the country.”
Additionally, “The level of Cs-137 detected in the detained shipment was approximately 68 Bq/kg” and the agency says at this level “the product would not pose an acute hazard to consumers”—avoiding these products is “a measure intended to reduce exposure to low-level radiation that could have health impacts with continued exposure over a long period of time.” The main health concern, says the FDA, would be repeated low-dose exposure over time, such as through consuming contaminated food or water, could result in an elevated cancer risk.
The FDA says PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati violated the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act due to its apparent preparation, packaging, or holding products “under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern.” The agency also has assigned an import alert for PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, aimed at stopping products from entering the U.S. “until the firm has resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the violation.”
If you purchased any of the above products, the FDA advises not to eat or serve it and instead throw the product away. Distributors and retailers are advised to do the same. Anyone concerned about possible exposure to elevated level of cesium is encouraged to reach out to a healthcare provider.
The FDA reports its investigation is “ongoing,” saying the above link will be updated when there’s new information.
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