The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced two recalls of frozen shrimp this week after being alerted to radioactive contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp processed at an Indonesian plant.
Testing of the shrimp at U.S. ports revealed Cesium-137 (Cs-137), a man-made radioactive compound used in medical devices and gauges. It’s also a byproduct of nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons testing.
U.S. Customs and Border Control denied entry for the contaminated shrimp.
No products sold in the United States to date have tested positive for Cs-137, but the FDA said it’s possible that shrimp from the same supplier, which did make it to United States stores and homes, were exposed to the same unsanitary conditions that led to the contamination, and therefore may pose a safety concern.
The FDA said traces of Cs-137 are widespread in the environment at harmless “background levels,” but foods can contain more hazardous amounts of Cs-137 if they’re grown, raised, or produced in contaminated settings.
Repeated low-dose exposure to Cs-137 — such as from eating or drinking minimally contaminated foods or drinks over time — may raise the risk of cancer, because the compound damages DNA in the body, the agency said.
Which Walmart Shrimp Are Being Recalled?
On August 19, Walmart recalled the following products:
Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005540-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005538-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, lot code: 8005539-1, Best by Date: 3/15/2027
The recalled Great Value shrimp were sold at Walmart stores in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.
Several Brands of Shrimp Recalled by Southwind Foods
Southwind Foods, a California-based distributor, announced on August 21 that it was recalling a “limited quantity” of frozen shrimp.
The recalled frozen shrimp, which came in both raw and cooked varieties, were distributed between July 17 and August 8, 2025, to retailers, distributors, and wholesalers in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state.
The recalled shrimp was sold under the following brand names:
Sand Bar
Arctic Shores
Best Yet
Great American
First Street
A full list of recalled products can be found at the FDA’s website.
If you have any of the recalled shrimp, you should not eat it. Instead, throw it away or return it for a full refund.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
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Resources
FDA Advises Public Not to Eat, Sell, or Serve Certain Imported Frozen Shrimp from an Indonesian Firm. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. August 21, 2025.
Tom Gavin joined Everyday Health as copy chief in 2022 after a lengthy stint as a freelance copy editor. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from College of the Holy Cross.
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