Photo: Colleen Michaels / iStock / Getty Images
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall for over 83,000 bags of frozen shrimp due to potential radioactive contamination. The shrimp, imported from Indonesia by Direct Source Seafood LLC, may contain the radioactive isotope cesium-137 (Cs-137). These products were sold at Safeway, Price Chopper, Jewel-Osco, and Lucky supermarkets across New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
The affected shrimp is packaged in one-pound bags with best buy dates of April 2027. Although no illnesses have been reported, the FDA warns that repeated exposure to Cs-137 can increase cancer risk by damaging DNA within living cells. The FDA's investigation revealed that the shrimp might have been prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions, leading to potential contamination with Cs-137, a man-made radioisotope.
According to the FDA, consumers are advised not to eat the shrimp and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. The FDA is actively investigating the source of contamination and has placed PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, the Indonesian firm responsible for the shrimp, on an import alert to prevent further shipments from entering the U.S. until the issue is resolved.
For more information, consumers can contact Direct Source Seafood LLC at (425) 455-2291. The FDA continues to monitor the situation and will update the public as more information becomes available.
