Walmart Shrimp Recalled in Kentucky Over Radioactive Contamination Concerns
Shoppers in Kentucky are being urged to check their freezers after a nationwide recall of frozen shrimp was expanded this week to include products sold at select Walmart locations across the Commonwealth.
What Products Are Included in the Recall
On August 22, Beaver Street Fisheries, LLC of Jacksonville, Florida, recalled packages of "Great Value Frozen Raw Shrimp EZ-Peel & Deveined Tail-On 21-25 Per lb," due to potential for contamination with a man-made radioactive material. The shrimp was sold in several states nationwide, including Kentucky, between July 28 and August 7, 2025.
Why the Shrimp Was Recalled
The recall is part of a larger investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into products processed by Indonesian company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati. It was here that concerns about Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination were first detected.
Health Risks Linked to Contaminated Shrimp
While FDA testing confirmed that contaminated shipments did not reach U.S. consumers, the agency determined that products from BMS Foods were prepared under "insanitary conditions" and posed potential long-term safety risks.
Cs-137 is a man-made radioisotope of cesium. Traces of Cs-137 are widespread and can be present in the environment at background levels, and at higher levels in water or foods grown, raised, or produced in areas with environmental contamination. The primary health effect of concern following longer term, repeated low dose exposure (e.g., through consumption of contaminated food or water over time) is an elevated risk of cancer, resulting from damage to DNA within living cells of the body.- FDA
No illnesses or injuries have been reported in connection with this recall. However, the FDA stresses the importance of avoiding exposure to potentially contaminated seafood as the investigation continues.
READ MORE: Here's How Indiana Is Using Radioisotopes in Medicine
What Consumers Should Do Next
For now, Kentucky shoppers are encouraged to check their purchases carefully. The affected shrimp was sold under Walmart’s Great Value brand, and full product images and lot details can be found in the recall notice on the FDA’s website. Consumers who purchased the affected shrimp should not eat or serve the product. The shrimp should be discarded immediately, according to the FDA.
FDA Investigation and Import Alert
The FDA has also placed PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati under an import alert to block additional shipments until safety concerns are resolved.
LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Kentucky
Gallery Credit: Stacker