Frozen shrimp recalled over potential radioactive contamination

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising residents and businesses not to eat, sell or serve certain imported shrimp sold by Walmart, due to potential radioactive contamination.

Certain raw frozen shrimp products processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (doing business as BMS Foods), a company located in Indonesia, and sold at Walmart stores in Alabama and several other states are affected by this advisory.  Specifically, the products affected are:

• Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005540-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
• Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005538-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
• Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005539-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027

At this time, no product that has tested positive or alerted for Cesium-137 (Cs-137) has entered U.S. commerce. FDA is working with distributors and retailers that received product from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati after the date of first detection of Cs-137 by Customs & Border Protection, but from shipments that did not alert for Cs-137, to recommend that firms conduct a recall. In conjunction with other information, FDA determined that product from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati violates the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act in that it appears to have been prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern. 

FDA has also added PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati to a new import alert for chemical contamination to stop products from this firm from coming into the U.S. until the firm has resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the violation.

FDA’s investigation is ongoing. This advisory will be updated as more information becomes available.