Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, has initiated a sweeping recall of its Great Value brand frozen shrimp after federal officials detected radioactive contamination in imported products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sounded the alarm on August 19, 2025, urging consumers across 13 states to discard specific lots of shrimp potentially exposed to the radioactive isotope Cesium-137 (Cs-137). The move comes after a series of tests and international investigations revealed troubling lapses in seafood safety protocols, raising concerns about both public health and the integrity of global food supply chains.
The FDA’s warning was explicit: “Do not eat, sell, or serve certain imported frozen shrimp” from Indonesian distributor BMS Foods, which may have been contaminated with Cs-137. According to the agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) first detected the radioactive material in shipping containers at four major American ports—Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, Georgia. Subsequent analysis by FDA officials confirmed that one sample of breaded shrimp imported from Indonesia tested positive for the isotope, a byproduct of nuclear reactions and a known environmental contaminant near sites such as Chernobyl and Fukushima (as reported by the BBC and NPR).
What does this mean for everyday shoppers? The recall specifically targets Great Value frozen raw shrimp with lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1, all bearing a best-by date of March 15, 2027. These products were sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. The FDA’s advice is unequivocal: anyone who purchased these shrimp should throw them away immediately or return them to any Walmart store for a full refund (Fox Business, NPR, and FDA press releases).
Walmart responded swiftly to the federal directive. “The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” a Walmart spokesperson told both BBC and FOX Business. “We have issued a sales restriction and removed this product from our impacted stores. We are working with the supplier to investigate.” The company also confirmed that it is cooperating fully with FDA and CBP officials as the investigation continues.
The source of the contamination has been traced to Indonesian supplier PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, also known as BMS Foods. After the positive test, BMS Foods was placed on the FDA’s “red list,” meaning none of its products will be allowed into the U.S. until the contamination issue is fully resolved. The FDA has also issued an import alert for chemical contamination, effectively blocking any further shipments from the company (Fox Business, Yahoo News).
It’s important to note that, according to the FDA, none of the shrimp that tested positive for Cs-137 actually entered U.S. commerce. The contaminated sample was intercepted and detained before reaching store shelves. However, Walmart did receive shipments of raw frozen shrimp from BMS Foods after the initial detection—shipments that, while not triggering contamination alerts, were imported after the date of first detection by CBP. Out of an abundance of caution, these batches were included in the recall (NPR, FDA, BBC).
The level of Cesium-137 detected in the detained shipment was approximately 68 Becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg), which is far below the FDA’s Derived Intervention Level of 1200 Bq/kg. Donald Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University, told NPR the risk from the recalled shrimp is “quite low.” Nonetheless, the FDA emphasized that repeated consumption of contaminated food, even at low levels, could elevate the risk of cancer over time by damaging living cells—a concern echoed by officials interviewed by the BBC and other outlets.
Cesium-137 is not naturally occurring; it’s a man-made radioactive isotope produced during nuclear fission. While trace amounts are found globally in soil, air, and food due to decades of nuclear activity, any unexpected presence in a food shipment is a red flag for regulators. The FDA evaluates each such finding on a case-by-case basis, and in this instance, the agency determined that follow-up action was warranted to protect public health (Fox Business, Yahoo News).
The investigation is ongoing, with the FDA working closely alongside CBP and Indonesian seafood regulatory authorities to trace the root cause of the contamination. Officials believe that the shrimp may have been “prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern,” as stated in the official FDA press release. Distributors and retailers nationwide have been instructed to dispose of the product and refrain from selling or serving it. The FDA also advised consumers who believe they may have been exposed to contaminated shrimp to contact their healthcare providers for guidance (Yahoo News, FDA).
This incident has added fuel to the ongoing debate over the safety and oversight of imported seafood, especially as U.S. shrimpers along the Gulf Coast have been calling for stronger federal protections. They argue that unfair foreign trade practices and lapses in international food safety are devastating their industry and putting American consumers at risk (Fox Business).
For now, the FDA maintains that the likelihood of acute harm from the recalled shrimp is low. Still, the agency is not taking any chances. “Avoiding potentially contaminated products could reduce exposure to low-level radiation that could lead to health problems over time,” FDA officials told NPR. The agency has pledged to continue tracking all implicated products processed by BMS Foods through the supply chain and to update the public as more information becomes available.
In the meantime, shoppers are advised to check their freezers for the affected lot codes and to heed the FDA’s warning. As the investigation unfolds, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the complexities—and vulnerabilities—of the global food supply in an era of mass importation and international trade.
The recall, while disruptive for both consumers and Walmart, underscores the vigilance of regulatory agencies in safeguarding the food supply. With ongoing investigations and heightened scrutiny, officials hope to prevent future incidents and restore confidence in the safety of imported seafood.
