By Adeola Adeosun

Copyright newsweek

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has detected radioactive cesium-137 contamination in a sample of cloves imported from Indonesia, leading to immediate import restrictions on products from PT Natural Java Spice.

The agency announced the discovery this week as part of ongoing screening efforts that also identified contamination in frozen shrimp from another Indonesian firm, PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati. Both companies have been added to Import Alert #99-51 for chemical contamination, effectively blocking their products from entering markets in the United States.

Why It Matters

This discovery represents another major radioactive contamination incident linked to Indonesian suppliers in months, revealing a pattern of systemic food safety failures that extends beyond seafood into commonly used spices. The contamination affects cloves, a popular fall spice widely used in seasonal dishes, holiday baking, and beverages during peak cooking season.

The escalating crisis began in August when the FDA warned consumers about cesium-137 contamination in Great Value shrimp products sold at Walmart, traced to PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati. This was followed by a second recall involving approximately 85,000 bags of Kroger-brand and AquaStar shrimp products distributed across 31 states between June and September 2025, also linked to the same Indonesian facility.

The rapid succession of contamination incidents from Indonesian suppliers raises serious questions about international food safety oversight and the effectiveness of current screening protocols.

What Is Cesium-137?

Cesium-137 is produced by nuclear fissions for use in medical devices in gauges, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It’s used in small amounts for calibration of radiation-detection equipment. In larger amounts, it can be used in medical radiation therapy devices for treating cancer, medical sterilization, industrial gauges that detect the flow of liquid through pipes and other industrial devices.

External exposure, however, can lead to burns, acute radiation, sickness and death, according to the CDC.

“Exposure to Cs-137 can increase the risk for cancer because of exposure to high-energy gamma radiation. Internal exposure to Cs-137, through ingestion or inhalation, allows the radioactive material to be distributed in the soft tissues, especially muscle tissue, exposing these tissues to the beta particles and gamma radiation and increasing cancer risk,” the agency says.

STOCK IMAGE: Different spices and nuts on gray table, top view

What To Know

The FDA detected cesium-137 at 732.43 Bq/kg in one sample of cloves from PT Natural Java Spice, well below the agency’s Derived Intervention Level of 1,200 Bq/kg but significant enough to warrant preventive action.

The contaminated shipment was detained at the Los Angeles/Long Beach port and never entered U.S. commerce. No illnesses have been reported, and no contaminated products reached American consumers.

The contamination was discovered during routine inspections at major U.S. ports, including Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, Georgia. The FDA’s enhanced screening protocols have successfully prevented contaminated products from reaching consumers, though the frequency of detection suggests ongoing contamination at source facilities.

What People Are Saying

FDA said in a statement: “No product that has tested positive or alerted for Cs-137 has entered U.S. commerce. The FDA took immediate action to protect consumers by detaining the shipment and preventing it from entering the U.S.”

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said during an August Cabinet meeting, in part: “The South Asian nations are now dumping shrimp on our country, and the shrimp is heavily contaminated. We just stopped a shipment that was contaminated with cesium-137, which is radioactive.”

He continued: “They’re farming these shrimps and they’re using bactericides and antibiotics and all kinds of chemicals, and they shrimp are so contaminated. The European nations won’t take them, so they’re dumping them all here. We have the most sustainable and most highly regulated fishing industry in the world. What our fisherman do is a good thing. And all of the trawlers in the gulf and in Alaska are being shut down.”

What Happens Next?

The FDA will maintain import alerts on all spice and shrimp products from the identified Indonesian firms until they provide adequate evidence of resolved contamination issues. The agency plans enhanced screening of all products from Indonesia and may add additional companies to import restrictions based on ongoing investigations.

Consumers should review existing FDA safety alerts for recalled products and avoid purchasing items from identified companies. The FDA will continue issuing consumer advisories as investigations progress.