Shrimp From Kentucky Walmarts Might Be Radioactive, Warns FDA

If you've purchased shrimp from Walmart recently, you should get it out of your freezer immediately and make sure it isn't contaminated.

Contaminated Shrimp

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning Tuesday about the possible presence of a radioactive isotope called Caesium-137. The affected shrimp, sold under the Great Value store brand, came from BMS Foods, an Indonesian distributor, which has been added to an FDA import alert list.

Walmart stores in Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, West Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas carry this particular variety of frozen shrimp. If you have purchased the shrimp, here's the information you'll find on the packaging.

Contaminated Great Value Shrimp

If there's good news, it's this...the FDA has "caught" all the containers with the contaminated shrimp and denied them entry at four separate American ports. However, the agency says that Walmart has, in fact, received what they call "implicated product" even if those shipments didn't alert for CS-137.

We're used to seeing warnings about products contaminated with some bad form of bacteria, but a radioactive isotope? Although the FDA has downplayed the likelihood that this shrimp has circulated into the public arena, it's important to know that, since we are talking about radiation, cancer is the chief concern regarding CS-137 contamination.

But if you haven't purchased shrimp from Walmart, or you don't have any on the premises, you're fine.