In brief
Aquastar Corp has issued a recall of approximately 157,000 pounds of cooked and frozen shrimp sold across various Kroger grocery stores due to potential radioactive contamination with cesium-137, a byproduct of nuclear reactions. The expanded recall includes products sold between June and September in over 30 states. While the FDA assesses the risk as low, they warn that prolonged exposure to cesium-137 could pose a health concern. The incident stems from contaminated shipments from Indonesia, promoting a public safety alert.
In the latest development regarding food safety, Aquastar Corp. announced a significant recall of shrimp products due to fears of radioactive contamination. The Seattle-based seafood distributor recalled nearly 157,000 pounds of cooked and frozen shrimp sold at Kroger stores across the United States, following concerns about contamination with cesium-137, a radioactive isotope.
This expanded recall includes nearly 50,000 bags of Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp, about 18,000 bags of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp, and over 17,000 bags of AquaStar Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers.
These shrimp were distributed between June 12 and September 17 among grocery retailers in over 30 states, notably affecting stores like Bakers, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, and Fry’s.
The initial recall occurred earlier in August and is part of an ongoing investigation into potential contamination. While the risks from cesium-137 exposure are considered low, the FDA has mentioned a potential health concern for people with ongoing exposure to this radioactive material over time.
In August, the FDA had issued a safety alert warning consumers to avoid specific frozen shrimp imported from an Indonesian company based on similar contamination. Recent shipments from the company, PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, also raised alarm as cesium-137 was detected in shipping containers, including some frozen breaded shrimp samples.
Consumers should check their shrimp products thoroughly and remain informed about the latest health advisories, especially the FDA’s recommendations regarding potentially contaminated seafood. Despite the low estimated risk levels, identifying the source of the contamination remains crucial for consumer safety and transparency.
