The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia that may have been exposed to radioactive material.
The shrimp came from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods). The FDA began investigating after U.S. Customs officers found cesium-137 (Cs-137), a radioactive substance, in shipping containers of shrimp sent to Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, Georgia, and Miami.
Tests showed Cs-137 in one sample of breaded shrimp. Those shipments were blocked from entering the U.S., but none of the contaminated shrimp reached the food supply.
Still, the FDA is urging caution. Other shrimp from the same company that had been imported earlier did not test positive, but officials are worried they could still be unsafe. Walmart received some of these shipments, and the FDA has recommended that the retailer recall the products. Customers who bought the affected frozen shrimp should not eat it and should throw it away.
Cesium occurs naturally in the environment, but Cs-137 is radioactive. It can form after nuclear explosions or accidents and has a half-life of about 30 years. While small traces of Cs-137 are often found in soil, air, and food, eating contaminated products over time could increase the risk of cancer.
The FDA said the amount found in the shrimp sample would not cause immediate harm, but long-term exposure could be dangerous. Because of this, the agency has placed BMS Foods on an import alert, stopping their shrimp from entering the U.S. until the issue is fixed.
The FDA is still investigating how the contamination happened and is working with Indonesian authorities to find the source.
