After learning that some frozen shrimp packets marketed under Walmart’s Great Value label might contain radioactive material, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an urgent warning. The impacted products, which were offered for sale in Texas and a number of other states, will be recalled by Walmart.
Frozen Shrimp Possibly Contaminated
The FDA says the issue is contamination with the radioactive isotope Cesium-137. The FDA found amounts of Cesium-137 in one shipment of frozen shrimp from the supplier PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, even though no recalled shrimp have tested positive as of yet.
The FDA is being cautious and warning customers not to ingest the identified products, even though the shipment never made it into American markets.
Products Included in the Recall
The Great Value frozen raw shrimp containers listed below are impacted by the recall:
Lot number: 8005540-1; expiration date: March 15, 2027
Lot number: 8005538-1; expiration date: March 15, 2027
Lot number: 8005539-1; expiration date: March 15, 2027
These products were sold in stores in Texas as well as other parts of the United States. Walmart has already taken the shrimp out of the affected areas and restricted sales.
What Consumers Should Do
The FDA recommends that if you bought any of these shrimp packages, you discard them right away. Customers can get a refund by contacting Walmart.
Are the Shrimp Actually Radioactive?
The recalled shrimp do not now appear to be radioactive. The FDA clarified that contamination found in a single international shipment was the reason for the notice. The government stated that it is better to be safe than sorry, even though that particular batch did not reach American markets.
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