The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday announced a second recall of frozen shrimp sold in nine states due to possible contamination from a radioactive isotope. File Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA
A second frozen shrimp recall has been issued due to possible contamination from a radioactive isotope.
California-based distributor Southwind Foods LLC on Thursday recalled several brands of raw and cooked bagged frozen shrimp that were offered for sale at retailers in nine states, NBC News reported.
The newly recalled brands of bagged frozen shrimp include Arctic Shores Seafood Co., Best Yet, First Street, Great American Seafood Imports Co. and Sand Bar.
The recalled shrimp products were available in Alabama, Arizona, California, Washington and Utah in the western United States. They also were sold in Minnesota, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The Food and Drug Administration earlier this week announced a similar recall of Great Value brand cooked frozen shrimp that was availed from July 17 through Aug. 8 at Walmart stores.
The questionable Great Value shrimp products were sold in Walmart stores, with lot codes 8005538-1, 8005539-1 and 8005540-1, all of which have the “Best by Date” of 3/15/2027.
The recalled frozen shrimp products might have been contaminated with the radioactive isotope Cesium-137.
The Environmental Protection Agency says the isotope is a “soft, flexible silvery-white metal that becomes liquid near room temperature” that commonly is used in medical devices and gauges.
Indonesia-based PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati dba BMS Foods voluntarily recalled the frozen shrimp products after the FDA detected CS-137 in a single shipment of frozen shrimp that did not enter U.S. commerce, according to the FDA.
BMS Foods appeared to have prepared, packed or held the recalled shrimp in unsanitary conditions that might have led to the isotope’s detection in the single shipment, according to the FDA.
The FDA continues investigating and monitoring the situation and recommends that consumers, distributors and retailers throw away any recalled shrimp products.
