Shrimp Recall 2025: FDA Advises Public Not to Eat, Sell, or Serve Certain Imported Frozen Shrimp from Indonesian Firm

What the FDA Advisory Says: Scope, Dates, and the Import Alert

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises consumers and businesses not to eat, sell, or serve specific frozen shrimp processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods) of Indonesia. The advisory, current as of August 29, 2025, clarifies that no product that tested positive for cesium-137 (Cs-137) entered U.S. commerce. Even so, FDA requested recalls for products received after the first Customs & Border Protection detection event, based on findings that the shrimp appeared to be prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions—a violation of the FD&C Act. To prevent additional product from entering the U.S., FDA added the firm to a new Import Alert (IA 99-51) “red list” for chemical contamination. The advisory will continue to update as tracebacks and testing progress.

Why this matters: the action is precautionary to limit long-term exposure risk if similarly handled lots exist. For readers, the immediate steps are to match identifiers (brand, weight, UPC, lot, date codes) and follow disposal/refund guidance.

Confirmed Recalls and Key Identifiers: Southwind Foods, Beaver Street Fisheries, and AquaStar

Four FDA-linked recalls (Aug 21–28) detail the brands, states, and codes consumers must check. Southwind Foods (Aug 21) pulled multiple items sold Jul 17–Aug 8 in AL, AZ, CA, MA, MN, PA, UT, VA, WA across brands such as Sand Bar, Arctic Shores, Best Yet, Great American, and First Street. Examples include Sand Bar Frozen Raw Shrimp 31/40 2 lb (UPC 011110641182, Lot 087305) and several Arctic Shores cooked SKUs with specific UPC/lot pairs.

On Aug 22, Beaver Street Fisheries recalled Great Value Frozen Raw Shrimp EZ-Peel & Deveined 21–25/lb 2 lb sold at select Walmart stores in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, OH, OK, PA, TX, WV (sold Jul 28–Aug 7). Affected items share UPC 078742133898 with Lot 8005540-1, 8005538-1, 8005539-1 and Best By 03/15/2027.

AquaStar (USA) Corp issued two recalls: Aug 27 for Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp 2 lb — UPC 011110626196, Lots 10662 5139 (Best Before 11/19/2027) and 10662 5140 (11/20/2027) — and Aug 28 for Cocktail Shrimp 6 oz sold refrigerated at Walmart — UPC 19434612191, Lots 10662 5106, 10662 5107, 10662 5124, 10662 5125.

No illnesses reported by the recalling firms at time of publication.

Testing Results and Health Context: Cesium-137 Levels and Why Precautions Matter

FDA sampling, prompted by CBP alerts at four ports, detected ~68 Bq/kg of Cs-137 in a detained shipment of frozen breaded shrimp from the implicated processor; that product did not enter commerce. Although the finding is below the FDA’s Derived Intervention Level of 1,200 Bq/kg, the agency emphasizes long-term exposure considerations. The primary health risk from repeated low-dose ingestion is elevated cancer risk caused by cumulative DNA damage. Against this risk model, the recalls are preventive, reducing potential exposure if similarly handled lots exist. FDA links to CDC/ATSDR resources for readers wanting more detail on Cs-137 and health. If you believe you consumed an affected lot, FDA recommends consulting your healthcare provider. At time of writing, recalling firms report no illnesses.

How to Check Your Shrimp: UPCs, Lot Codes, Stores, and What to Do Next

Match your package to the brand, weight, UPC, lot, and date shown below. If it matches, do not eat—discard or return for refund.

• Great Value (Walmart) · 2 lb: UPC 078742133898 · Lots 8005540-1, 8005538-1, 8005539-1 · Best By 03/15/2027 · Sold Jul 28–Aug 7, 2025 in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, OH, OK, PA, TX, WV.
• Kroger Mercado (2 lb): UPC 011110626196 · Lots 10662 5139 (Best Before 11/19/2027), 10662 5140 (11/20/2027) · banners include Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pick ’n Save, etc.
• AquaStar Cocktail Shrimp (6 oz · refrigerated): UPC 19434612191 · Lots 10662 5106, 10662 5107, 10662 5124, 10662 5125 · sold in a wide multi-state Walmart footprint.
• Southwind Foods: multiple Sand Bar, Arctic Shores, Best Yet, Great American, First Street SKUs; examples include Sand Bar 31/40 raw 2 lb UPC 011110641182 (Lot 087305). Consult the FDA table for the full list.

If exposed? FDA advises speaking with your healthcare provider. Sign up for FDA recall alerts to stay current as the investigation evolves.

Regulatory Actions, Investigation Status, and What Comes Next

CBP detections at Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami triggered FDA sampling of five shrimp products from the processor; one breaded sample confirmed ~68 Bq/kg Cs-137 and was denied entry. FDA subsequently placed the firm on Import Alert IA 99-51 for chemical contamination, detaining shipments without physical examination until corrective actions resolve the violation’s appearance. Simultaneously, FDA recommended U.S. firms recall implicated lots received after the initial CBP detection, despite those lots not alerting for Cs-137, due to insanitary-conditions concerns. The agency continues to coordinate with distributors, retailers, and Indonesian regulators on tracebacks and root-cause analysis. Expect further updates to the advisory as new test results, traceability findings, or additional firm-initiated recalls are posted. The integrated approach—import controls, firm recalls, transparent public notices—aims to minimize potential long-term exposure while the investigation runs its course.