Radioactive shrimp: recall just got bigger

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just widened a major seafood recall, and it is one you need to pay attention to if you buy shrimp regularly. AquaStar (USA) Corp, based in Seattle, is pulling back more than 85,000 bags of shrimp products because of contamination with cesium-137, a radioactive isotope.

The shrimp was sold under both Kroger-brand products and AquaStar raw shrimp skewers across 31 states between June and September 2025. While no illnesses have been reported yet, the FDA warns that repeated exposure to cesium-137 could increase the risk of cancer.

This is the second radioactive shrimp recall in just over a month, following a similar problem with Walmart’s Great Value shrimp. Both recalls were linked back to the same Indonesian supplier.

What is cesium-137 and why is it dangerous

You might be wondering, what exactly is cesium-137? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Cesium-137 is created through nuclear fission and has uses in medical devices, radiation therapy, and industrial gauges.
  
• In small, controlled amounts, it helps calibrate radiation detection equipment.
  
• But if you ingest it through contaminated food, it can settle in soft tissues like muscle and expose you to beta particles and gamma radiation.

The CDC explains it clearly:

“Exposure to Cs-137 can increase the risk for cancer because of exposure to high-energy gamma radiation. Internal exposure to Cs-137, through ingestion or inhalation, allows the radioactive material to be distributed in the soft tissues, especially muscle tissue, exposing these tissues to the beta particles and gamma radiation and increasing cancer risk.”

That is why this recall matters, even if you have not gotten sick from shrimp so far.

Which shrimp products are affected

Here are the specific products under the expanded recall:

• Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp (2 lbs)
  
  • Transparent bag with blue band, yellow and red details
    
  • UPC: 20011110643906
    
  • Lot codes include: 10662 5085 10 (Best If Used By 03/26/27) through 10662 5114 11 (Best If Used By 04/24/27)
    
• Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp (2 lbs)
  
  • Clear plastic bag with white label and green stripes
    
  • UPC: 011110626196
    
  • Lot codes include: 10662 5112 11 (Best Before 10/22/27) and 10662 5113 10 (Best Before 10/23/27)
    
• AquaStar Raw Peeled Tail-On Shrimp Skewers (1.25 lbs)
  
  • Black top, blue bottom with skewer pictures
    
  • UPC: 731149390010
    
  • Lot codes include: 10662 5127 10 (Best If Used By 11/07/27) through 10662 5135 10 (Best If Used By 11/15/27)

If you have any of these bags in your freezer, the FDA is urging you not to eat them. Instead, return them to the store for a refund or throw them away.

Which states are impacted by the recall

The shrimp made it onto shelves at major grocery stores across 31 states. Some of the affected retailers include:

• Kroger
  
• Ralphs
  
• Fred Meyer
  
• Fry’s
  
• Smith’s
  
• Food 4 Less
  
• Mariano’s
  
• QFC

States where the recalled shrimp was sold include California, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and more. Ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah, Georgia, were where the contamination was first detected during routine inspections.

Why this is the second major shrimp recall in a month

This recall is raising eyebrows because it is not an isolated event. In August 2025, Walmart’s Great Value shrimp was recalled for the exact same problem: cesium-137 contamination. Both recalls were traced back to the same Indonesian supplier, PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods).

The back-to-back recalls are shining a light on bigger questions:

• How effective is the current international seafood screening process?
  
• Why are contaminated shipments slipping through?
  
• What steps are being taken to prevent this from happening again?

What to do if you bought recalled shrimp

If you purchased any of the recalled shrimp, here is what you should do:

• Stop eating the product immediately.
  
• Check the lot codes and UPCs on your packaging.
  
• Return the shrimp to the store for a full refund.
  
• Call AquaStar’s hotline at 1-800-331-3440 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST) if you have questions.

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