Saving Seafood

Report highlights problem of Mexican shrimp laundering, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership says more work needed

October 7, 2025 — The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership has welcomed a new international report highlighting the issue of Mexican shrimp laundering, although the organization – which has been working on the issue since 2018 – notes that there is much work to be done to tackle the ongoing problem.

“I was very hopeful that when the report came out it would really push things forward, but you know, it made the news the first couple of days and then it all died down,” SFP Director of Supply Chain Roundtables Megan Westmeyer told SeafoodSource. “This sort of thing needs continuous pressure from buyers who are using this product.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Indonesia confirms radioactive shrimp linked to contamination at steel plant, assures exports safe

October 3, 2025 — The Indonesian government has confirmed traces of radioactive Cesium-137 (Cs-137) detected in shrimp products were linked to a steel factory in an industrial zone in Banten province, but said the incident has not affected the integrity of the country’s seafood supply chain or exports.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration first issued an advisory that it detected Cs-137 in a shipping container at the ports of Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami in August. Imported shrimp, processed by Indonesia-based PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, was inside the containers, leading to initial recalls as radiation was detected in both the shrimp packaging, and in the shipping containers.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

More potentially radioactive frozen shrimp recalled. See list.

September 8, 2025 — The Food and Drug Administration announced another recall for shrimp due to possible radioactive contamination.

In August, the FDA announced four recalls (one of which was updated on Friday, Aug. 29, to include best-by dates) for frozen shrimp due to potential radionuclide (Cesium-137) contamination. Cesium-137, also known as Cs-137, is a man-made radioactive isotope that can lead to an elevated risk of cancer if ingested, the FDA states.

Various brands of frozen shrimp sold throughout the country voluntarily issued the recalls. As of Friday, Sept. 4, no illnesses had been reported in conjunction with the recalls.

Read the full article at USA TODAY

String of frozen shrimp recalls related to radioactive material may be linked to Indonesia industrial site

September 8, 2025 — Astring of frozen shrimp recalls related to the discovery of radioactive material may be connected to an industrial site in Indonesia, the Associated Press reported.

Multiple U.S. companies have issued recalls for frozen shrimp due to possible contamination with Cesium-137 (Cs-137), a man-made radioisotope. Companies began issuing recall advisories in late August, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) followed it up with a voluntary recall after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detected Cs-137 in multiple shipping containers at the ports of Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

AquaStar joins list of companies recalling frozen shrimp over possible radioactive contamination

September 3, 2025 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced additional company recalls of frozen shrimp products over possible contamination by a radioactive isotope.

Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based seafood supplier AquaStar has joined the list of companies recalling frozen shrimp products exported by Indonesia-based PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati. According to a 14 August alert from the FDA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection detected the radioisotope Caesium-137 (Cs-137) in shipping containers at multiple ports. Testing revealed contamination on a sample of breaded shrimp, leading to recalls of multiple shrimp products by Beaver Street Fisheries and Southwest Foods.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US Health Secretary Kennedy says government has increased inspections over radioactive shrimp

August 28, 2025 — United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has weighed in on the discovery of a radioactive isotope in a shipment of foreign frozen shrimp, claiming that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has responded by conducting more inspections.

“We have now increased FDA inspections of shrimp to make sure that Americans are not buying and eating contaminated shrimp and putting our shrimpers out of business,” Kennedy said in a 26 August cabinet meeting.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

LOUISIANA: Louisiana official renews call for seafood inspection fees following shrimp recalls

August 26, 2025 — An official in the U.S. state of Louisiana has renewed his calls for there to be a national inspection fee on imported seafood in the wake of recalls of frozen shrimp contaminated by radiation.

On 14 August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection had detected a radioactive isotope called Caesium-137 (Cs-137) in shipping containers at the ports of Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Radioactive shrimp update: Walmart store brand and 5 other brands recalled

August 25, 2025 —  Days after the FDA issued a do-not-eat warning about imported shrimp sold at Walmart, a Florida company actually issued a recall of that shrimp and a California company recalled shrimp sold under five other brands.

So, if you have shrimp in your freezer or thawing in your refrigerator, check to make sure it’s not from Sand Bar, Arctic Shores, Best Yet, First Street, Great American Seafood Imports or Walmart’s Great Value brand.

This all concerns worries that the shrimp might be contaminated Cesium-137 (Cs-137), a man-made radioactive isotope. Breaded and frozen shrimp from Indonesia’s PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, which does business as BMS Foods, tested positive from Cs-137, although the FDA said at a “level that would not pose an acute hazard to consumers.”

Read the full article at Miami Herald

US FDA recalls more shrimp after discovering radioactive contaminant

August 22, 2025 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a voluntary recall of frozen shrimp products due to possible contamination with Cesium-137 (Cs-137), a man-made radioisotope that can elevate cancer risks through longer term, repeated low dose exposure.

The announcement comes shortly after U.S. Customs and Border Control (CBP) detected Cs-137 in shipping containers at the Ports of Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami, with agents finding evidence of the radioisotope in a single shipment of frozen bread shrimp. The discovery led the FDA to issue an alert for frozen shrimp supplied by Indonesia-based PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati to Walmart and sold under the “Great Value” brand name.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource