The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made an announcement about shrimp that should not be purchased at Walmart stores. There is a high possibility that the shrimp is radioactive, and consumers are encouraged to stay away from it.
FDA warns against Walmart shrimp
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to the public. This warning highlights the fact that people should not eat or serve specific frozen shrimp that are sold at Walmart stores. It stated that these products may have been contaminated with harmful levels of radiation. Therefore, if the shrimp were consumed, it would lead to an increased risk of cancer. In addition, the release that was issued on Tuesday stated that the FDA was alerted to the unsafe levels by the United States Customs & Border Protection.
This, after the officials claimed that Cesium-137 (Cs-137) was detected in the shipping containers of the frozen breaded shrimp from Indonesian processor PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati at four United States ports. The reports that were released about this situation is now being investigated by the FDA. It has been confirmed that no products in this investigation have been tested positive for Cs-137, as stated by the FDA.
However, the contamination issue cannot be ruled out because the processor breached the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act. It has been found that the shrimp products have been “prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern.”
According to the release, all the products and the containers that has been tested positive for Cs-137, has been prevented from entering the country. Also, it has been stated that the company is now on a “red list” as part of the investigation. This means that no implicated shrimp products will enter the United Stated until violation of this recall is being resolved.
Details about the affected shrimp
The affected shrimp products were distributed to Walmart, and it were sold under the Great Value brand, as confirmed by a released. The table below contains more information on the affected products. It contains the brand, the product name, the product type, best by date, item code, lot code, and the distributor. Consumers are encouraged to read through the information provided to ensure they get rid of the products if they do have to at home.
| Brand | Product Name | Product Type | Best By | Item Code | Lot Code | Distributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Value | Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp | Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag | 3/15/2027 | 7383108 | 8005540-1 | Walmart |
| Great Value | Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp | Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag | 3/15/2027 | 7383108 | 8005538-1 | Walmart |
| Great Value | Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp | Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag | 3/15/2027 | 7383108 | 8005539-1 | Walmart |
The release of the FDA urged consumers who purchased these products at Walmart stores, that matched the above description, not to eat it. Consumers should rather throw it away and not even serve it to anyone. This is to protect their own safety and ensure their own wellness. Consumers should take this seriously because this is a really serious call to attention and action.
Locations where the product was sold
Unfortunately, many states have been impacted by the recall of this Walmart product. The recalled shrimp was sold at various Walmart stores across 13 states. A list was made available with the names of affected locations, and consumers should check the list to see if their nearby Walmart is affected. The list of the 13 locations can be seen below:
- Alabama,
- Arkansas,
- Florida,
- Georgia,
- Kentucky,
- Louisiana,
- Missouri,
- Mississippi,
- Ohio,
- Oklahoma,
- Pennsylvania,
- Texas and
- West Virginia.