Great Value Frozen Shrimp Recalled Amid Radioactive Contamination Alert

Walmart stores sold related products in 13 states

AARP

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Published August 19, 2025

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This article was created with the assistance of generative AI. It was reviewed by editors before publication.

The FDA has warned the public not to eat frozen shrimp imported from an Indonesian manufacturer after tests detected possible contamination with Cesium-137 (Cs-137), a radioactive isotope linked to increased cancer risk.

FDA testing at four shipping ports around the U.S. resulted in one sample of breaded shrimp testing positive for Cs-137. All containers or products that tested positive were denied entry into the country, the FDA said.

Although no contaminated products have been confirmed in U.S. commerce, the FDA believes the shrimp, packaged by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati in Indonesia, was operating under unsanitary conditions.

So far, the agency is aware that Walmart received raw frozen shrimp from the manufacturer after the date Cs-137 was first detected. Those shipments were not flagged for contamination, but the products were still distributed to select Walmart stores in 13 states.

The FDA has not reported any illnesses or deaths linked to the shrimp.

Which frozen shrimp products have been recalled?

Recalled shrimp was sold at select Walmart stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. The products include:

Great Value Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp

Product Type: Frozen Raw Ez Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2-pound bag
Lot codes: 8005540-1, 8005538-1, 8005539-1
Best by Date: 3/15/2027
Item Code: 7383108

What should consumers do?

Anyone who purchased the recalled shrimp products should discard them. Retailers and distributors are similarly advised to dispose of the recalled products and refrain from selling or serving them. In case of suspected exposure to elevated levels of cesium, medical consultation is recommended.

What are the health risks of Cesium-137?

Testing found about 68 Bq/kg of Cs-137— well below the FDA’s safety threshold of 1,200 Bq/kg. At that level, the shrimp would not pose an immediate health risk, but avoiding such products helps reduce long-term exposure to low-dose radiation.

Older adults and people with weakened immune systems may be more vulnerable to Cs-137 exposure. The main health concern from long-term or repeated low-dose exposure is an increased risk of cancer, according to the FDA.

There are two types of tests for radioactive cesium, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One looks for evidence of significant radiation exposure in blood cells or chromosomes, but it cannot confirm cesium as the source. The other measures cesium directly in blood, feces, saliva, urine or the whole body to show whether it’s being excreted or retained.

How is the FDA protecting consumers?

The FDA is working with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to block contaminated products from reaching consumers and is coordinating with Indonesian seafood regulators to investigate the source of the contamination.

Under the current import alert, no shrimp linked to the violation will be allowed into U.S. commerce until PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati addresses the issue. The agency said it is also tracing products from the company through the supply chain and will update this advisory with new product information as it becomes available.

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