Food safety alert: FDA issues warning about shrimp contaminated with RADIOACTIVE isotope

08/20/2025 / By Ramon Tomey

The FDA has issued a recall for specific Walmart-brand frozen shrimp after detecting trace radioactive cesium-137 contamination (68 Bq/kg) in samples imported from Indonesian supplier BMS Foods. Three lot codes are affected (8005540-1, 8005538-1, 8005539-1).
While levels are under the 1,200 Bq/kg safety threshold, long-term exposure risks remain. The FDA has banned further imports from BMS Foods and is collaborating with Indonesian authorities to trace the contamination’s origin.
Cesium-137 – a nuclear fission byproduct – accumulates in muscle tissue, increasing cancer risk from beta/gamma radiation. Though acute toxicity is unlikely, chronic low-level exposure poses potential health dangers.
The incident highlights vulnerabilities in food safety oversight, with lax international regulations allowing contaminated seafood – often from nuclear-affected regions like Fukushima – to enter commerce.
Walmart has pulled products in 12 states, urging disposal of affected shrimp. Advocates recommend opting for organic, domestically sourced seafood to avoid reliance on risky global supply chains.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging consumers to discard certain Walmart-brand frozen shrimp after detecting trace levels of radioactive cesium-137 (Cs-137) in a shipment from Indonesia, prompting a nationwide recall and raising concerns about long-term exposure risks.

The contamination was first flagged by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Savannah, Georgia. This led to an immediate import ban on products from Indonesian supplier PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, doing business as BMS Foods. Three lots of Great Value frozen raw shrimp with the following lot codes and a best-by date of March 15, 2027 are affected:

8005540-1
8005538-1
8005539-1

While no contaminated products have entered U.S. commerce, the FDA confirmed Cs-137 levels of 68 becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg) in one breaded shrimp sample. While this is far below the 1,200 Bq/kg safety threshold, it still poses potential long-term health risks. The agency has placed BMS Foods on its “red list,” blocking further imports until the source of contamination is resolved.

Cs-137, a byproduct of nuclear fission, is not naturally occurring. “Internal exposure through ingestion or inhalation leads to its distribution in soft tissues, particularly muscle tissue, increasing cancer risk due to exposure to beta particles and gamma radiation,” Brighteon.AI‘s Enoch warns.

Historically, nuclear accidents like Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011 have dispersed Cs-137 globally. These catastrophes have embedded trace amounts in soil and seafood. However, this incident marks a rare case of regulatory detection in commercial food shipments.

From Indonesia to America: How contaminated shrimp slips through cracks

The FDA emphasized that while acute toxicity is unlikely, cumulative low-level exposure could have significant health implications. Walmart has cooperated with the recall, removing the implicated products from shelves in 12 states, including Texas, Florida and Ohio.

“The health and safety of our customers is a top priority,” the retailer stated, though BMS Foods has yet to publicly comment. Meanwhile, FDA investigators are collaborating with Indonesian authorities to trace the contamination’s origin, focusing on facility sanitation and supply chain controls. (Related: Antibiotic-resistant SUPERBUGS found in imported SHRIMP sold at Canadian supermarkets.)

The recall underscores systemic vulnerabilities in global food safety, where lax international oversight and corporate self-regulation permit hazardous contaminants to slip through. With rising concerns over nuclear contamination in seafood – particularly from Asia-Pacific regions – this case may prompt stricter import scrutiny. Consumers are advised to avoid the affected shrimp and contact healthcare providers if they suspect exposure.

As the investigation continues, the FDA pledges updates on further findings, leaving shoppers questioning what other undiscovered risks lurk in everyday groceries. Meanwhile, advocates urge a shift toward organic, domestically sourced seafood to mitigate reliance on global supply chains with questionable oversight.

Head over to CleanFoodWatch.com for more similar stories.

Watch this report from “Inside Edition” about some U.S. restaurants using imported shrimp for their menu items and passing it off as locally sourced.

This video is from the TREASURE OF THE SUN channel on Brighteon.com.