A Seattle-based seafood distributor has expanded its recall of frozen shrimp, this time affecting Kroger grocery stores across the United States, over concerns of potential radioactive contamination.
Aquastar Corp. announced Saturday that nearly 157,000 additional pounds of shrimp are being pulled from shelves due to possible contamination with cesium-137, a radioactive isotope produced by nuclear reactions.
The latest recall includes:
- 50,000 bags of Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp
- 18,000 bags of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp
- 17,000 bags of AquaStar Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers
The products were sold between June 12 and Sept. 17 at Kroger-owned stores in more than 30 states, including Ralph’s, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Pick ’n Save, and others.
This is the second large-scale shrimp recall by Aquastar in recent months. In August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety alert after cesium-137 was detected in shrimp imported from Indonesian supplier PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, also known as BMS Foods.
According to FDA officials, the health risk from the contaminated shrimp is considered low. Tests found radioactivity levels of about 68 becquerels per kilogram—well below the FDA’s safety threshold of 1,200 becquerels per kilogram. Still, the agency warns that prolonged exposure to even low levels of cesium-137 could pose health risks over time.
Investigators believe the contamination may have originated from industrial scrap metal at or near an Indonesian smelting facility where the shrimp were processed. The International Atomic Energy Agency has suggested that improper disposal of radioactive material could be to blame.
So far, none of the shrimp that directly tested positive for contamination was released for sale. However, the FDA said other shipments may have been processed under the same conditions and could carry a risk.
Consumers who purchased the affected shrimp are urged to check packaging details and either dispose of the products or return them to the store for a refund.
