The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now formally recalled multiple frozen shrimp products distributed across nine states, confirming the presence of Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope tied to long-term health risks. While the recall was initially linked to just Walmart’s Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp, it’s been expanded and now includes 12 distinct products sold under brands like Great Value, Arctic Shores, Sand Bar, Best Yet, First Street, and Great American.
The FDA has formally recalled 12 frozen shrimp products across 9 states after confirming radioactive cesium-137 contamination.
The shrimp impacted were distributed between July 17 and August 8, 2025, and include both raw and cooked frozen shrimp in various sizes and formats. While no illnesses have been reported at this time, the FDA is urging consumers to check their freezers and discard or return any of the recalled shrimp.
Which states are impacted by the recall?
According to the FDA’s official recall announcement, the recalled shrimp was distributed to retailers, wholesalers, and distributors in:
Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.
Several of the affected items were sold at Walmart stores under its Great Value and Great American house brands. The shrimp was processed by Indonesian seafood supplier PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods), which has now been added to the FDA’s Import Alert list, meaning future shipments can be detained without physical inspection.
What’s actually recalled?
Here’s a partial list of the recalled products, lot numbers, and UPCs:
Sand Bar Frozen Raw Shrimp 31/40 (2lb bag) – Lot 087305, UPC 011110641182
Best Yet Frozen Cooked Shrimp 31/40 (1lb bag) – Lots 095944, 111154, UPC 042187002736
Arctic Shores Frozen Cooked Salad Shrimp 150–200 (6oz bag) – Lot 109542, UPC 041130811685
Great American Frozen Cooked Shrimp Meat (1lb bag) – Lot 134010, UPC 829944092540
Great American Frozen Raw Shrimp 71/90 (2lb bag) – Lot 128267, UPC 829944010698
First Street Frozen Raw Shrimp 16/20 (2lb bag) – Lot 130632, UPC 041512179471
You can find the full list on the FDA’s recall page.
Why this recall matters
Cesium-137 (Cs-137) is a radioactive element that can contaminate water or food grown in affected environments. While naturally occurring background levels exist, repeated exposure to higher levels over time can increase cancer risk due to DNA damage. In this case, the contaminated shrimp was traced back to a facility in Indonesia. The FDA says it is continuing to investigate how the material entered the supply chain.
Earlier this month, Minnesota’s Department of Health detected elevated cesium-137 levels in a shipping container of frozen shrimp. That discovery triggered a multi-state investigation and the eventual import alert, but until now, the recall had not been formally listed by the FDA.
What consumers should do
Consumers who purchased frozen shrimp under any of the recalled brands should not eat the product. Instead, they should throw it away or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Southwind Foods, the California-based distributor, is handling the recall and can be reached at (323) 262-8222 during business hours (8 a.m.–4 p.m. PT, Monday–Friday).
Even though the measured radiation levels did not exceed the FDA’s action limit, the agency says this recall is being done out of an abundance of caution, especially since the impacted products were distributed to stores nationwide under widely recognized brands. This recall is on going and