The Food and Drug Administration issued an alert earlier this week about shrimp sold at Walmart over concerns that it could be radioactive. And now more shrimp are being added to the list.
Southwind Foods, a company based in Carson, California, is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of frozen shrimp due to possible contamination with Cesium-137, according to a press release from the FDA. Cs-137 is a radioisotope of cesium that is not naturally occurring but has been present in our environment ever since the first nuclear explosions occurred in 1945.
The new recall includes frozen shrimp sold under several brand names, including Sand Bar, Best Yet, Arctic Shores, Great American, and First Street. The shrimp was distributed between July 17 and Aug. 8, 2025, though specific retail locations have not been named in the FDA’s notice.
Where was the shrimp sold?
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
How can shrimp become radioactive?
It’s not clear how Southwind Foods believes its shrimp may have been contaminated with Cs-137, and the earlier alert for a different company this week also failed to include that detail. PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati of Indonesia, also known as BMS Foods, had its shrimp flagged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at four different points of entry, leading to concerns.
The amount of Cs-137 found in the proximity of the BMS Foods shrimp reportedly registered at 68 Bq/kg, which is below the standard for federal intervention, which is 1200 Bq/kg. As the American Nuclear Society notes, the 68 Bq/kg number is similar to the radiation levels found in bananas. The difference is that bananas are radioactive due to naturally occurring potassium-40, while Cs-137 comes from nuclear fission.
The FDA notes that the primary concern around eating the shrimp is long-term, involving repeated low-dose exposure, which can contribute to cancer. There have been no reports to date of anyone becoming ill from Southwind Foods shrimp, according to the FDA.
What to do if you have the Southwind Foods shrimp
Consumers who have purchased shrimp that has been recalled in this latest notice are being instructed to dispose of the product or return it to the place they bought it for a refund. The FDA has directed anyone with questions about the new recall to contact Southwind Foods at 1-323-262-8222, Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT (11 a.m.-7 p.m. ET).
Southwind Foods didn’t immediately respond to questions on Friday. Gizmodo will update this article when we hear back.
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