Radioactive Shrimp Recall Expanded
The recall of raw, frozen shrimp due to potential contamination by radioactive isotope Cesium-137 (Cs-137) has been expanded.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall alert for frozen shrimp distributed by Southwind Foods LLC of Carson, California, sold under the brand names Arctic Shores, Best Yet, First Street, Great American, and Sand Bar. The bagged, frozen shrimp product was distributed between July 17–August 8, 2025 to retailers, distributors, and wholesalers in nine states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. The full list of recalled products can be found here.
The latest recall follows a related safety advisory regarding Great Value frozen shrimp sold at Walmart stores in 13 states.
Both recalls have been issued due to radioactivity detected in a shipment of imported shrimp processed by Indonesian firm PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (doing business as BMS Foods) at the U.S. border. After U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detected Cs-137 in the shrimp shipment, further FDA sampling and testing of BMS Foods shipments detected Cs-137 in a single shipment at 68 becquerel per kilogram (Bq/kg). There was no detectable Cs-137 in the other products tested; however, this does not rule out contamination.
Although 68 Bq/kg is below FDA’s Derived Intervention Level for Cs-137 of 1200 Bq/kg, and single exposure to the contaminated product would not pose an acute hazard to consumers, chronic exposure to levels of Cs-137 at this level could have health impacts.
Cs-137 is a radioisotope of cesium that is man-made through nuclear reactions and because it is widespread worldwide, trace amounts of Cs-137 can be found in the environment, including soil, food, and air.
FDA has added BMS Foods to a new import alert for chemical contamination to stop products from the firm from entering the U.S., until the firm has resolved the conditions that led to the violation. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
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Update, September 26, 2025: The recall has been further expanded, with additional distributors, brands, and retailers (including Kroger) now included. Additionally, FDA has detected Cs-137 in a shipment of spices from Indonesia. More information can be found here.
Update, October 6, 2025: Reports out of Indonesia suggest the source of Cs-137 contamination found in shrimp is environmental. The cause of cloves contamination is still under investigation.
