NEED TO KNOW
- AquaStar Corp has recalled nearly 70,000 bags of frozen shrimp from Kroger stores across the United States due to a potential contamination with cesium-137
- The announcement comes about a month after Walmart and Southwind Foods of California issued recalls of frozen shrimp products for the same reason
- “Internal exposure to Cs-137 through ingestion or inhalation allows the radioactive material to be distributed in the soft tissues, especially muscle tissue, which increases cancer risk,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency
More frozen shrimp has been recalled for potential radioactive contamination.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, AquaStar Corp recalled nearly 70,000 bags of frozen shrimp from Kroger stores across the United States due to a potential contamination with cesium-137, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The announcement comes about a month after Walmart and Southwind Foods of California issued recalled frozen shrimp products for the same reason.
The latest recall affects about 49,920 bags of Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp and about 18,000 bags of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp. The company also recalled about 17,264 bags of AquaStar Raw Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers.
The company stated in the announcement that the frozen shrimp was recalled “because [it] may have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with cesium-137.”
Cesium-137, abbreviated to Cs-137, is a “man-made radioisotope of cesium,” per the FDA.
In addition to Kroger, the affected frozen shrimp products were sold at Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foodsco, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C, King Soopers, Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Supermarkets, Pick ‘n Save, Ralphs, Smith’s and QFC stores in 31 states, per the FDA.
Those states include Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.
The products were sold between June 12 and Sept. 17.
The recalled Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp is sold in a clear printed bag with a thick blue band across the top with yellow and red details. The products have a UPC of 20011110643906 with lot codes 10662 5085 10, 10662 5097 11, 10662 5106 11, 10662 5107 10, 10662 5111 11, 10662 5112 10, 10662 5113 10, 10662 5113 11, 10662 5114 10 and 10662 5114 11. The best buy dates on the affected products range from March 26, 2027 to April 24, 2027.
The Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp, has clear plastic packaging with a white label with green stripes on the top. The products have a UPC of 011110626196 with lot code 10662 5112 11 and a best buy date of Oct. 22, 2027 or 10662 5113 10 with Oct. 23, 2027.
Additionally, the recalled AquaStar Raw Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers; net wt. 1.25 lbs., has a white bag with a black top and a blue bottom. The bag has a photo of the shrimp skewers. The products have a UPC of 731149390010 with lot codes 10662 5127 10, 10662 5128 11, 10662 5133 11 and 10662 5135 10. The best buy dates range from Nov. 7, 2027 to Nov. 15, 2027.
Those who purchased the aforementioned frozen shrimp products “should not consume the product and should dispose of or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund,” according to the FDA.
The agency stated that it is currently investigating reports of Cs-137 contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products processed by Indonesian company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati.
No illnesses have been reported to date, per the FDA.
Furthermore, the agency issued a statement in August, saying that “no product that has tested positive or alerted for Cesium-137 (Cs-137) has entered the U.S. commerce.”
The FDA previously recalled three lots of frozen raw shrimp sold at Walmart locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia.
Mere days later, Southwind Foods of California issued a recall for 13 shrimp products sold under the brand names Sand Bar, Best Yet, Great American, Arctic Shores and First Street. The bags of frozen shrimp were distributed to retailers, distributors and wholesalers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies Cs-137 as “a soft, flexible, silvery-white metal that becomes liquid near room temperature.”
“Internal exposure to Cs-137 through ingestion or inhalation allows the radioactive material to be distributed in the soft tissues, especially muscle tissue, which increases cancer risk,” the EPA website states.
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