Frozen Shrimp, Including Walmart’s Great Value, Recalled for Potential Radioactive Contamination
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Frozen Shrimp Recalled for Potential Radioactive Contamination

Multiple brands of the shrimp, including Walmart’s Great Value, may have been exposed to Cesium-137.
Frozen Shrimp Recalled for Potential Radioactive Contamination
Everyday Health
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Published on August 22, 2025
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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
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. 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.
  2. Radionuclide Basics: Cesium-137. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  3. Southwind Foods, LLC Recalls Frozen Shrimp Because of Possible Health Risk. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. August 21, 2025.
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