Radioactive shrimp are being recalled in the largest supermarket in the USA
The US Food and Drug Administration is warning about radioactively contaminated shrimp. Consumers should discard the affected food products instead of consuming them.
After shrimp from an Indonesian company tested positive for radioactive substances, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning.
The shrimp from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati contain the radioactive substance Cs-137, which was discovered in the containers, according to LiveScience. The containers were intercepted in cities such as Los Angeles and Houston before reaching the United States.
The affected products were not imported into the US. Despite the lack of positive tests on older batches, the FDA recommends against consuming these shrimp. The supermarket chain Walmart has been asked to recall the affected batches.
Customers should compare the batch numbers of their purchased shrimp with the batch numbers published by the FDA and discard the shrimp if they match. Further imports from Indonesia are currently suspended until the issues are resolved.
According to the FDA, the following products sold at Walmart are affected: Grand Value: Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp , Lot Code 8005540-1, Grand Value: Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp , Lot Code 8005538-1, Grand Value, Frozen Raw White Vannamei Shrimp, Lot Code 8005539-1
- Sources of radioactivity : Radioactive contamination of food can arise from various sources. Natural radionuclides such as uranium, thorium, and their decay products are present in small amounts in the environment and can enter food chains.
- Health risks: Consuming radioactively contaminated food can pose health risks because the radionuclides can release radiation into the body and damage cells. This can potentially lead to cancer and other health problems.
- Regulation and limits: Many countries have strict legal regulations and limits for radioactive contamination in food to protect public health. In the EU, for example, Regulation (EU) 2016/52 sets limits for certain radionuclides in food.
- Monitoring and control measures: Authorities conduct regular monitoring and control programs to monitor radioactive contamination of food. These programs include sampling and analysis of food products, particularly after nuclear incidents, to ensure that limits are not exceeded and that the food is safe for consumption.
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