FDA issues urgent recall for shrimp over fears it could be radioactive

Walmart has recalled frozen shrimp products in 13 states following fears that the delicacy could be contaminated by radiation.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an urgent warning to Americans, stressing they should not eat frozen shrimp sold under Walmart's Great Value label, due to it having been exposed to a dangerous isotope.

That is Caesium-137, which is made through nuclear reactions and is one of the byproducts of the nuclear fission process in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons testing, the US Environmental Protection Agency states.

The recall comes after the FDA reported that a sample of breaded shrimp came back as positive for traces of the substance - which was detected in a shipping container.

Caesium-137 is also used in certain medical devices and gauges.

Walmart has recalled frozen, breaded shrimp after the FDA found a sample was contaminated by a radioactive substance (Getty stock)

The states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.

"FDA is actively investigating reports of Caesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (doing business as BMS Foods) of Indonesia," the administration notes.

"The U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) alerted FDA to the detection of Cs-137 in shipping containers at four U.S. ports (Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami).

"FDA collected multiple samples for radionuclide analysis, with results confirming the presence of Cs-137 in one sample of breaded shrimp. All containers and products testing positive or alerting for Cs-137 have been denied entry into the country."

It went on to explain that it was working alongside authorities in Indonesia to 'investigate the root cause of the contamination'.

The 'radioactive' shrimp was recalled from stores across 13 states (Getty stock)

The shrimp itself is understood to have not been contaminated, but it's been 'prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions' whereby it may have become contaminated with Cesium-137.

The FDA advises those who purchased 'one of the impacted lots of Great Value raw frozen shrimp from Walmart' to throw it away.

It adds: "Distributors and retailers should dispose of this product and should not sell or serve this product. If you suspect you have been exposed to elevated levels of cesium, talk to your healthcare provider."

Walmart has since issued a statement following the recall as it stresses that the product has been removed from shelves in impacted stores.

It read: "The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority. We have issued a sales restriction and removed this product from our impacted stores. We are working with the supplier to investigate."