Florida Included in Multi-State Radioactive Shrimp Recall
From shrimp boils to seafood dinners, Florida’s favorite crustacean is now at the center of a recall. Today, the FDA announced that Southwind Foods, LLC is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of frozen shrimp due to possible contamination with Cesium-137, a man-made radioactive isotope. Long-term exposure to Cs-137 through food or water can increase the risk of cancer.
However, Florida consumers are specifically affected by the recall of Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp sold at Walmart stores. Other states impacted include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.
The affected Walmart products include:
- Great Value Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bags
- Lot Codes: 8005540-1, 8005538-1, 8005539-1
- Best By Date: 3/15/2027
Separately, Southwind Foods recalled multiple brands, including Sand Bar, Arctic Shores, Best Yet, Great American, and First Street, distributed in several other states (AL, AZ, CA, MA, MN, PA, UT, VA, WA). Florida was not included in that broader recall.
Consumers are urged:
- Do not eat or serve the recalled shrimp.
- Dispose of the product or return it to the retailer for a full refund.
- Contact your healthcare provider if you believe you may have been exposed to elevated levels of cesium.
FDA testing confirmed Cs-137 in one shipment of imported frozen shrimp from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods) of Indonesia, though no contaminated products have been confirmed in U.S. commerce beyond the recalled Walmart lots. The FDA is continuing its investigation and has added the company to a new import alert to prevent additional potentially contaminated products from entering the U.S.
For questions, Florida consumers can contact Walmart customer service or Southwind Foods at 1-323-262-8222, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time.
More information can be found on the FDA’s website here.
