More Than 26,000 Packages of Potentially Radioactive Shrimp Sold at Walmart

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has announced another recall of potentially radioactive frozen shrimp sold at Walmart. This is the third shrimp recall in recent weeks, coming out of an ongoing FDA investigation of imported shrimp from Indonesia that was found to be contaminated with cesium-137 (Cs-137), which is a radioactive isotope.

At this time, no shrimp sold in U.S. stores has tested positive for Cs-137, but the FDA is issuing recalls on other imported shrimp that were packed under unsanitary conditions and, therefore, may be contaminated with Cs-137.

How To Identify the Recalled AquaStar Shrimp

More than 26,000 packages of AquaStar (USA) Corp Cocktail Shrimp sold at Walmart stores are impacted by this recall. The shrimp was sold in the refrigerated section of Walmarts in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington between July 31 and Aug. 16. 

The recalled products were packaged in clear plastic trays with red and white labels, and all bear the UPC 19434612191 and the Lot Codes 10662 5106, 10662 5107, 10662 5124, and 10662 5125. The FDA has label photos on its site to help identify the recalled shrimp.

What To Do if You Have the Recalled Shrimp

Those with the recalled cocktail shrimp should not consume it. Instead, throw it away or return it to your Walmart store for a refund. 

While there have been no illnesses reported to date—and no shrimp sold in the U.S. has tested positive for Cs-137—the FDA has warned that that doesn’t mean the shrimp is free from radioactive elements. Therefore, the FDA is concerned about long-term effects caused by eating the contaminated shellfish, as even small doses of radiation can lead to an elevated risk of cancer or acute radiation syndrome.

If you have any questions regarding this recall, you can contact AquaStar at 1-800-331-3440.