Dr. Marty Makary, Commissioner of Food and Drugs | FDA
Lawrence Wholesale LLC, based in Vernon, California, has announced a recall of certain Kroger brand bagged frozen shrimp and shrimp cocktail products due to potential contamination with Cesium-137 (Cs-137). The affected products may have been prepared, packed, or stored under conditions that could result in Cs-137 contamination.
Cesium-137 is an artificial radioactive isotope. While it can be found at low levels in the environment, higher concentrations may occur in water or foods produced in contaminated areas. Long-term exposure to low doses of Cs-137 through food or water consumption is associated with an increased risk of cancer due to DNA damage.
The recalled products were distributed by Kroger and sold in multiple states including Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating reports of Cs-137 contamination linked to shipping containers and frozen shrimp manufactured by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods) in Indonesia. According to the FDA’s statement from August 19th: “At this time, no product that has tested positive or alerted for Cesium-137 (Cs-137) has entered the U.S. commerce.”
FDA officials are collaborating with distributors and retailers who received shipments from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati after Customs & Border Protection first detected Cs-137. Even though these shipments did not test positive for the contaminant at entry points into the United States the FDA determined that these products violate federal law because they appear to have been handled under unsanitary conditions.
Consumers who purchased any of the recalled frozen shrimp should not eat them and are advised either to dispose of them or return them to where they were bought for a full refund. For more information or questions about the recall process consumers can contact Lawrence Wholesale LLC at (323) 235-7535 during regular business hours.
This recall was initiated with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
