FDA advises against eating certain shrimp sold at Walmart

KENTUCKY – Health officials are urging the public not to consume certain shrimp sold at Walmart stores in multiple states, including Kentucky.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says raw frozen shrimp products processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian firm, are impacted under the advisory. The FDA says this is due to concerns of potential cesium exposure.

The products include Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp with a best by date of March 15, 2027. Lot codes can be viewed here.

The FDA says it detected Cs-137 in a single shipment of imported frozen shrimp from Inonesia that did not enter United State commerce. However, health officials say avoiding products like the shipment tested with similar levels of cesium is a measure to “reduce exposure to low-level radiation that could have health impacts with continued exposure over a long period of time.”

The products under the advisory were sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia.

The FDA says the primary health effect of concern from long term, repeated low dose exposure to Cs-137 includes an elevated risk of cancer from damaged DNA.

Consumers who purchased one of the impacted products are advised to throw them away and to not eat or serve the products.

Distributors and retailers should throw away this products as well. If you suspect you have been exposed to elevated levels of cesium, the FDA says to speak to your healthcare provider.

To learn more about this advisory, visit fda.gov.