The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall for over 85,000 bags of shrimp due to potential contamination with cesium-137, a radioactive isotope.
The recall affects three varieties of shrimp sold at Kroger stores across 31 states, according to a notice published Sunday.
The FDA said the shrimp may be contaminated with Cs-137, a byproduct of nuclear fission used in medical devices and industrial gauges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explained that Cs-137 can also be found in the environment from weapons testing in the 1950s and 1960s. Exposure to Cs-137 can cause burns, acute radiation sickness, and increase the risk of cancer.
The recall impacts shrimp sold under the AquaStar and Kroger brands, available at various Kroger-owned stores, including Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, and others, between June 12 and September 17. The affected states include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
This recall follows , leading to a recall of shrimp products sold at Walmart.
The FDA is working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to prevent further contaminated shipments from reaching U.S. shelves.
The agency emphasized that the recall is a precautionary measure to minimize long-term health risks associated with radiation exposure.