The Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday that consumers should refrain from purchasing certain frozen shrimp available at Walmart due to potential contamination with radioactive materials.
According to health officials in a recent news release, the Indonesian company involved is Pt. Indonesia’s Bahari McMur Sejati, commonly referred to as BMS Food.
A variety of raw frozen shrimp products processed by Indonesian firms can be found in Walmart locations across 13 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia, as stated by the FDA.
The affected product includes Walmart’s “Great Value Brand Frozen Shrimp,” according to the health agency.
“If you have recently bought fresh frozen shrimp from Walmart that fits this description, please dispose of it,” the FDA advised. “Do not consume or serve this product.”
Health officials recommend that individuals speak with health care providers if they suspect they have been exposed to heightened levels of contaminants.
Both Pt. Bahari Makmur Sejati and Walmart did not respond promptly to requests for comments.
CS-137 is a radioactive isotope of cesium, a soft, pliable silver-white metal utilized in medical devices and gauges that liquefies at room temperature. As noted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Repeated low-dose exposure to CS-137 “may raise the risk of cancer due to damage to DNA within living cells,” health officials stated in the news release.
The FDA mentioned that the US Customs and Border Patrol had alerted health agencies regarding the detection of CS-137 in shipping containers at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, Georgia. All containers that tested positive for CS-137 were denied entry into the country.
Health officials further noted that CS-137 was not found in products exceeding current Derived Intervention Levels for CS-137, set at 1200 BQ/kg.
However, the FDA stated, “The detected levels in the breaded shrimp samples could pose potential health risks.”
Source: www.nbcnews.com
