Walmart remembers potentially radioactive frozen shrimp sold in 13 states

The Food and Drug Administration of the United States has asked Walmart to draw three lots of high-value frozen shrimp stores after federal officials detected cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in shipping containers and a sample of breaded shrimp imported from Indonesia.

Products could pose a “potential health problem” for people exposed to low cesium-137 levels over time, FDA officials said.

“If you recently bought Walmart raw frozen shrimp that corresponds to this description, throw it away,” FDA officials said in a statement.

The risk of the shrimp recalled is “quite low,” said Donald Schaffner, food security expert at Rutgers University.

CESIUM-137 is a sub-product of nuclear reactions, including nuclear bombs, tests, reactor operations and accidents. It is widespread worldwide, with traces found in the environment, including soil, food and air.

The level detected in frozen breaded shrimp was much lower than the FDA intervention levels. However, the agency said that avoiding potentially contaminated products could reduce exposure to low -level radiation that could cause health problems over time.

The FDA studies the relationships of contamination by CESIUM-137 in shipping containers and products treated with PT BAHARI MAKMUR SEJATI, doing business as BMS of Indonesia. Customs officials and American border protection alerted the FDA that they found Cesium-137 in expedition containers sent to American ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Savannah, in Georgia.

FDA officials collected several product samples and detected contamination in a sample of frozen breaded shrimp. Shipping containers and products have been refused in the United States

However, the FDA then learned that Walmart had received potentially affected products imported after the first detection, shipments that did not trigger contamination alerts.

Walmart immediately recalled the products, said a company spokesperson. They include a large value of frozen crudgery with lots of 8005540-1, 8005538-1 and 8005539-1, all with the dates of the best Virginia. Consumers must eliminate products or return them to any Walmart store to reimburse.

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