News Summary
Beaver Street Fisheries has issued a voluntary recall of its Great Value Frozen Raw Shrimp due to potential contamination with Cesium-137. No illnesses have been reported. The shrimp, sold at Walmart from July 28 to August 7, was distributed across 13 states. Consumers are advised not to consume the product, which has a best by date of March 15, 2027. The FDA is investigating the source of the contamination.
Jacksonville – Beaver Street Fisheries, a seafood company based in Jacksonville, Florida, has announced a voluntary recall of its frozen raw shrimp product due to possible contamination with Cesium-137 (Cs-137). The affected product is the Great Value Frozen Raw Shrimp EZ-Peel & Deveined Tail-On, which has a best by date of 3/15/2027.
The recall was prompted by findings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which reported potential Cs-137 contamination detected in shipping containers at four U.S. ports. U.S. Customs and Border Protection originally flagged the contamination during their routine screening procedures at port entry points. Fortunately, no illnesses have been connected to the consumption of the recalled shrimp.
The shrimp was distributed across 13 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. It was available for sale at Walmart stores from July 28 to August 7.
Consumers who may have purchased the recalled shrimp are strongly advised not to consume it. Instead, they should either throw the product away or return it to a Walmart location for a full refund. This guidance is crucial for maintaining public safety amidst the potential contamination threat.
Cesium-137 is characterized as a man-made radioactive isotope. While it can occur naturally in the environment, it can also accumulate in areas contaminated by nuclear activities. The FDA has confirmed that the Cs-137 levels detected in the shrimp sample were lower than those typically associated with acute health effects. However, it is important to note that long-term exposure to Cs-137 may heighten the risk of cancer due to its damaging effects on DNA and living cells.
To address this issue, Beaver Street Fisheries has committed to enhancing its food safety measures and testing protocols to mitigate the risk of future contamination incidents. The company is focused on ensuring the safety of its seafood products and protecting consumer health.
The FDA is actively coordinating with Indonesian seafood regulatory authorities to investigate the source of the contamination. The shrimp in question was processed by BMS Foods, an Indonesian company. Ongoing evaluations and efforts aim to establish the roots of this contamination to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.
As food safety remains a paramount concern, officials urge consumers to remain vigilant about product recalls and to stay informed about any developments regarding food products that may pose potential risks to health.
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Additional Resources
- First Coast News
- Wikipedia: Cesium-137
- News 4 JAX
- Google Search: radioactive shrimp recall
- Action News JAX
- Google Scholar: Cesium 137 health effects
- 11Alive
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Radioactivity
- Hoodline
- Google News: frozen shrimp recall
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