In brief
Aquastar Corp has announced an expansion of its shrimp recall, affecting nearly 157,000 pounds of products sold at various Kroger grocery stores. This decision follows the detection of cesium 137, a radioactive isotope, raising small but significant health concerns for consumers. Previous recalls and ongoing investigations emphasize the need for vigilance in food safety regulations.
A Seattle seafood distributor has recalled more cooked and frozen shrimp sold at Kroger grocery stores across the U.S. due to ongoing concerns about potential radioactive contamination.
Aquastar Corp. announced this past Saturday the recall of nearly 157,000 additional pounds of shrimp after detecting possible contamination with cesium 137, a radioactive isotope. This latest recall includes approximately 50,000 bags of Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp, around 18,000 bags of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp, and more than 17,000 bags of AquaStar Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers.
The affected products were available for sale between June 12 and September 17 in grocery stores across more than 30 states, including Bakers, City Market, Dillons, and Ralph’s among others.
This recall follows a previous set of shrimp products that were recalled in August. Officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledged that while the health risk appears to be small, prolonged exposure to low levels of cesium 137 could present a potential health concern for consumers.
In August, the FDA issued a safety alert warning consumers to avoid consuming certain frozen shrimp imported from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian company known as BMS Foods, following the detection of cesium 137 in their shipping containers. The FDA confirmed that none of the contaminated shrimp from this alert was available for sale; however, other shipments may have been manufactured under conditions that led to contamination.
The agency emphasized the importance of identifying the source of the contamination, with suggestions that it could stem from a nearby industrial site involved in metal processing. Reports indicate that cesium 137 levels found in the shrimp were measured at about 68 becquerels per kilogram, significantly below the FDA’s threshold of 1,200 becquerels per kilogram that would necessitate health protections.
As investigations continue, health experts agree on the low risks involved yet call for transparency regarding the contamination source and preventive measures.
