Bad news for seafood lovers — more than 80,000 bags of shrimp are being recalled out of fear of contamination.
The Food and Drug Administration announced that approximately 49,920 bags of Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel shrimp, approximately 18,000 bags of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp, and approximately 17,264 bags of AquaStar Raw Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers have been recalled because they may have become contaminated with cesium-137.
Cesium-137 is a dangerous, human-made radioactive material that releases harmful radiation for an extended period. Traces of the material are widespread and can be present in the environment at background levels, and at higher levels in water or foods grown, raised, or produced in areas with environmental contamination. The primary health effect of concern following longer-term, repeated low-dose exposure is an elevated risk of cancer, resulting from damage to DNA within living cells of the body.
The affected shrimp was sold at Kroger locations in Mississippi, along with locations in 30 other states, from June 12 through Sept. 17 of this year. No illnesses have been reported from the affected seafood to date, per federal regulators.
Federal officials believe the contamination came from unsanitary preparing and packaging practices by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati(doing business as BMS Foods) of Indonesia.
“FDA is working with distributors and retailers that received product from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, after the date of first detection of Cs-137 by Customs and Border Protection, but from shipments that did not alert for Cs-137, recommends that firms conduct a recall,” a statement from the federal agency reads.
“In conjunction with other information, the FDA determined that the 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.”
People who bought the shrimp products are urged to avoid consuming the seafood, while also disposing of it or returning it to the store of purchase for a refund.
