August 21, 2025: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health advisory cautioning against consumption, sale, or serving of specific lots of Great Value frozen raw shrimp imported from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (doing business as BMS Foods) in Indonesia. The advisory follows detection of radioisotope Cesium-137 (Cs-137) in one detained shipment—though levels were below acute hazard thresholds, the FDA is exercising precaution due to potential long-term exposure risks..

Products Affected:
Great Value brand frozen raw white Vannamei shrimp (2 lb bags, “EZ Peel Tail‑On”), lot codes 8005540‑1, 8005538‑1, and 8005539‑1, all with a Best‑By Date of March 15, 2027, sold at Walmart stores in the following states: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, OH, OK, PA, TX, and WV.

Contamination Details:
Cesium‑137 was identified in a shipment by Customs & Border Protection (CBP), with levels around 68 Bq/kg, well below the FDA’s Derived Intervention Level of 1200 Bq/kg, posing no immediate acute threat. However, the FDA cites concerns about cumulative radiation.

Scope of Containment:
The contaminated shrimp shipment was detained and did not enter U.S. commerce. Nonetheless, because similar lots were distributed to Walmart after the detection, the FDA recommended a recall of those lots despite no positive Cs‑137 findings in them thus far.

Recommendations:
Consumers who purchased the affected lots should discard them immediately and avoid consumption. Retailers, distributors, and food service outlets are urged to dispose of impacted inventory and refrain from sale or service. Individuals concerned about exposure should consult their healthcare provider.

Agency Coordination:
The FDA continues collaborating with CBP, investigating shipping container contamination at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami, and working alongside Indonesian authorities to determine root causes and prevent recurrence

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the FDA issued a formal advisory urging consumers and commercial entities to cease distribution and consumption of specific lots of Great Value frozen raw shrimp imported from Indonesia due to detected contamination by Cs-137—even at low levels. While the detainment prevented contaminated products from entering commerce, the agency’s actions reflect both caution in the face of long-term hazards and adherence to regulatory mandates for food safety and public health.

Source: FDA, Press Release