For the second time this week, frozen shrimp has been pulled off shelves because of potential contamination by a radioactive isotope.
Southwind Foods of Carson, California voluntarily recalled some of its supply of frozen shrimp Thursday over concerns it contained Cesium-137 (Cs-137). The alert was issued amid reports of Cs-137 contamination in shipping containers and batches of shrimp provided by BMS Foods, an Indonesia supplier.
Earlier this week, the FDA told consumers not to eat, sell or serve certain lots of Great Value shrimp sold at Walmart after traces of Cs-137 were found in containers of the shrimp at four U.S. ports.
Cs-137 was also reportedly detected in one shipment of shrimp itself, with the FDA saying the products “appear to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern.”
What Southwind Foods products have been recalled?
In total, 13 different Southwind Foods items were recalled, all different packages of frozen shrimp.
|
08890 |
FROZEN RAW SHRIMP 31/40 SAND BAR 2LB BAG |
011110641182 |
087305 |
|
06350 |
FROZEN COOKED SHRIMP 31/40 BEST YET 1LB BAG |
042187002736 |
095944 |
|
06350 |
FROZEN COOKED SHRIMP 31/40 BEST YET 1 LB BAG |
042187002736 |
111154 |
|
06062 |
FROZEN COOKED SHRIMP 41/50 BESY YET 1LB BAG |
042187002743 |
095946 |
|
08224 |
FROZEN LARGE COOKED SHRIMP 31/40 ARTIC SHORES 1LB BAG |
041130812392 |
109562 |
|
08127 |
FROZEN SMALL COOKED SHRIMP 61/70 ARTIC SHORES 1LB BAG |
041130810497 |
109540 |
|
08128 |
FROZEN SMALL COOKED SHRIMP 91/120 WHITE ARCTIC SHORES 12OZ BAG |
041130810411 |
109541 |
|
08129 |
FROZEN COOKED SALAD SHRIMP 150-200 ARCTIC SHORES 6OZ BAG |
041130811685 |
109542 |
|
06021 |
FROZEN RAW SHRIMP 16/20 GREAT AMERICAN 2LB BAG |
829944010612 |
125143 |
|
06171 |
FROZEN RAW SHRIMP 16/20 FIRST STREET 2LB BAG |
041512179471 |
130632 |
|
06102 |
FROZEN RAW SHRIMP 71/90 GREAT AMERICAN 2LB BAG |
829944010698 |
128267 |
|
08523 |
FROZEN COOKED SHRIMP MEAT GREAT AMERICAN 1LB BAG |
829944092540 |
134010 |
|
06812 |
FROZEN COOKED SHRIMP 41/60 GREAT AMERICAN 2LB BAG |
829944012173 |
128275 |
The shrimp listed above was distributed to wholesalers, retailers and distributors in Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington between July 17 and August 8, 2025.
Consumers who purchased one of the recalled products are asked to either dispose of it or bring it back to place of purchase for a refund. Thankfully, there have been no illnesses reported as of Thursday.
What is Cesium-137?
Described as a “soft, flexible, silvery-white metal that becomes liquid near room temperature, but easily bonds with chlorides to create a crystalline powder,” Cesium-137 can cause burns, radiation sickness and even death if a person is exposed externally for an extended period of time.
“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,” writes the FDA.
