US in radioactive farmed shrimp alert

The FDA has told customers to throw out shrimp under the Great Value brand from the following batches:

• 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 possible contamination is from the radioactive isotope, Caesium-137 after it was detected from a single consignment.

The FDA says that so far no product that has tested positive or alerted for Caesium-137 or has entered the US commerce network.

The FDA is working with distributors and retailers that received product from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati after the date of first detection of Cs-137 by Customs & Border Protection (CBP).

FDA said it was determined that products from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati violated the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act in that it appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a serious safety concern. 

The FDA has also added PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati is subject to a new import alert about chemical contamination to stop products from this firm from coming into the U.S. until it has resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the violation.

The primary health effect concern following longer term, repeated low dose exposure (e.g., through consumption over time) is an elevated risk of cancer, resulting from damage to DNA within living cells of the body.

Indonesia is the world’s fourth largest producer of farmed shrimp, with the United States one of its principal markets.