Share this @internewscast.com
Over 85,000 bags of shrimp are being recalled due to possible contamination, becoming the latest items affected by a radioactive threat.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in a recall notice released on Sunday, stated that three shrimp varieties sold at Kroger stores in 31 states might be contaminated with cesium-137.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cs-137 is a byproduct of nuclear fission utilized in medical devices and gauges. It is also used to measure “the flow of liquid through pipes,” and has been “found in the environment due to weapons testing during the 1950s and 1960s,” the agency noted.
At room temperature, Cs-137 presents as a liquid but can turn into a powder when mixed with chlorides. If misused, Cs-137 can cause burns, lead to acute radiation sickness, and even be lethal. Prolonged exposure poses a higher risk of cancer development.
Last month, the FDA discovered elevated Cs-137 levels in an Indonesian shipment of frozen shrimp products, leading to a recall affecting shrimp sold at Walmart. Shortly thereafter, additional Great Value shrimp batches were removed from stores due to potential contamination. Days later, another 26,000 packages of AquaStar cocktail shrimp sold in Walmart were also recalled.
The current recall once again affects shrimp under the AquaStar brand and Kroger-branded products. These raw and cooked shrimp items, as specified in the notice, were available in Kroger stores — namely 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 — between June 12 and September 17 of this year.
Slideshow: Packaging of shrimp impacted by recall
More specifically, the shrimp was sold in these states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The recall covers three varieties of shrimp:
Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp with net weight of 2 pounds, the UPC of 20011110643906, and the following lot codes and “best if used by” dates listed below. The bags are transparent with a blue band and yellow and red details, according to the notice.
Lot Codes | Best If Used By Dates |
---|---|
10662 5085 10 | 03 26 27 |
10662 5097 11 | 04 07 27 |
10662 5106 11 | 04 16 27 |
10662 5107 10 | 04 17 27 |
10662 5111 11 | 04 21 27 |
10662 5112 10 | 04 22 27 |
10662 5113 10 | 04 23 27 |
10662 5113 11 | 04 23 27 |
10662 5114 10 | 04 24 27 |
10662 5114 11 | 04 24 27 |
Impacted Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp packages have a net weight of 2 pounds, a clear plastic bag, a white label with green stripes, a UPC code of 011110626196, and one of the two sets of lot codes and best before dates listed below:
Lots Codes | Best Before Dates |
---|---|
10662 5112 11 | 10 22 2027 |
10662 5113 10 | 10 23 2027 |
Multiple packages of AquaStar Raw Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers have also been recalled. Sold in printed bags with a black top and blue bottom, these have a net weight of 1.25 pounds, a printed picture of the skewers, a UPC of 731149390010, and the following lot and best by date combinations:
Lot Codes | Best If Used By Dates |
---|---|
10662 5127 10 | 11 07 2027 |
10662 5128 11 | 11 08 2027 |
10662 5133 11 | 11 13 2027 |
10662 5135 10 | 11 15 2027 |
So far, the FDA said, no products that have entered the U.S. market have tested positive or alerted for Cs-137.
If you have any of the impacted shrimp, though, you’re advised to dispose of them or return them to the store for a full refund. If you have questions, you can call 1-800-331-3440, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.
The FDA said in August that PT. Baharis Makmur Sejati, the shrimp producer behind the aforementioned recalled products, had violated federal regulations, and an investigation had been launched.
“In conjunction with other information, FDA determined that product from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati violates the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act in that it appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern,” the FDA said in Sunday’s recall notice.