The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has significantly expanded a recall of imported shrimp, sending shockwaves through grocery aisles across the country as concerns mount over radioactive contamination. The move, which now covers more than 44,000 packages of cocktail shrimp and Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp produced by Seattle-based Aquastar Corp., has put consumers on high alert—especially those who shop at major retailers like Walmart and Kroger. The recall also extends to products distributed by H&N Group, a California-based seafood wholesaler, and has prompted a full import alert on an Indonesian supplier, PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, also known as BMS Foods.
According to the FDA, the affected shrimp products were sold between July 24 and August 16, 2025, in at least 27 states. The list of impacted retailers reads like a who’s who of American grocery shopping: Baker’s, Gerbes, Jay C, Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Supermarkets, Pick ‘n Save, and of course, Walmart. The recall covers approximately 26,460 packages of cocktail shrimp and 18,000 bags of Kroger-branded shrimp, all manufactured by Aquastar Corp. As ABC News reported, consumers are being urged to check their freezers and refrigerators, and to either return the products to the store for a refund or dispose of them safely.
But what exactly triggered this sweeping action? The culprit is cesium-137 (Cs-137), a man-made radioactive isotope that can pose significant health risks if consumed over time. According to the FDA, cesium-137 can damage DNA within living cells, potentially leading to an elevated risk of cancer. While small amounts of cesium-137 can be found in the environment due to historic nuclear weapons testing and major nuclear accidents like Fukushima and Chernobyl, the levels detected in these shrimp shipments are far above what is typically found in nature.
NewsNation highlighted that this is now the third shrimp recall in August alone tied to Indonesian imports. The recalled cocktail shrimp, sold in six-ounce clear plastic trays with red and white labels (UPC 19434612191), was available at Walmart stores across a wide swath of the country, from Alaska and Alabama to Wisconsin and Washington. The lot codes in question are 10662 5106, 10662 5107, 10662 5124, and 10662 5125. The shrimp had a 12-day shelf life, making it likely that some consumers may still have the product at home.
As of now, there have been no reported illnesses linked to the contaminated shrimp. Still, the FDA is urging caution, emphasizing that consumers should not eat any of the recalled products. In a statement echoed by multiple outlets, the agency advised, "Consumers who have purchased affected shrimp should not consume the products and should dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase for a refund." For those seeking more information, Aquastar’s customer service line is open weekdays to handle questions and concerns.
The discovery of the contamination was anything but routine. According to The Associated Press, U.S. Customs and Border Protection first detected the radioactive isotope in shipping containers arriving at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, Georgia. Customs officials quickly alerted the FDA, which then conducted its own tests and confirmed the presence of cesium-137 in a sample of frozen breaded shrimp. The level of radioactivity detected—about 68 becquerels per kilogram—remains well below the FDA’s threshold of 1,200 becquerels per kilogram that would trigger more aggressive health protections. Still, this is about 100 times higher than the routine levels detected in Pacific Ocean shrimp, according to the American Nuclear Society.
Steve Biegalski, chair of the Nuclear and Radiological Engineering and Medical Physics program at Georgia Tech, told the Associated Press, "We sometimes can see Cesium-137 from historic nuclear weapons fallout, nuclear accidents such as Fukushima or Chernobyl, but the levels in the environment are super, super, super low right now and cannot explain what's going on here." That sentiment has been echoed by other nuclear experts, who agree that while the immediate health risk appears low, the situation is highly unusual and warrants further investigation.
The FDA’s response has been swift. Not only has the agency expanded the recall, but it has also placed PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati under a full import alert for chemical contamination. This effectively blocks all of the company’s shrimp products from entering the U.S. market for the time being. The agency is now working to determine the source and extent of the contamination, but officials have so far declined to answer detailed questions about how the radioactive isotope found its way into the shrimp or their shipping containers. The FDA has confirmed that none of the shrimp that tested positive for cesium-137 was released for sale, but it warned that other batches manufactured under similar conditions may still pose a risk.
H&N Group, the California-based seafood distributor, has also recalled more than 17,000 cases of frozen shrimp sold to grocery stores along the East Coast. Their recall began on August 12, 2025, and is part of a broader effort to remove potentially contaminated products from the market before they reach consumers’ tables.
For many shoppers, the news has been unsettling—especially given the ubiquity of shrimp in American diets and the trust placed in major retailers. A shopper at a Kroger in Ohio, who asked not to be named, said, "I never thought I’d have to worry about radioactive shrimp in my freezer. It’s scary, but I appreciate that the stores are taking this seriously and pulling the products quickly."
While the FDA has stressed that the detected levels of cesium-137 are below regulatory limits, the agency is not taking any chances. The import alert on BMS Foods is a clear signal that U.S. regulators are determined to prevent further contaminated products from entering the country. In the meantime, the investigation into how the contamination occurred continues, with federal officials promising transparency as more information becomes available.
For now, the best advice for consumers is to stay vigilant: check your shrimp packaging, heed the recall notices, and don’t hesitate to reach out to retailers or the FDA with questions. It’s a situation that’s left many Americans with a new reason to scrutinize their seafood—and a reminder that, when it comes to food safety, even the most familiar products can sometimes harbor unexpected risks.
