Seafood wholesaler Aqua Star issued a recall involving approximately 26,000 packages of cocktail shrimp sold at Walmart stores in 27 states between July 31 and Aug. 16, citing concerns of possible radioactive contamination. Unlike previous recalls, which concerned exclusively frozen products, the affected shrimp was sold in the refrigerated section.
Pictures of the product included as part of the recall announcement do not show a prominently displayed brand name on the front of the package. The clear 6-ounce plastic containers say “Cocktail Shrimp” in black letters on the top and feature a red and white label. The packages are marked with lot codes 10662 5106, 10662 5107, 10662 5124, or 10662 5125 and have a 12-day shelf life, with various “best by” dates.
The packages of cocktail shrimp were sold at Walmart stores in the following states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
If you’ve purchased this cocktail shrimp, do not eat it. Throw it away or return it to the store where you purchased it for a full refund, Aqua Star said in a press release.
This recall and others stem from the detection of Cs-137 in shipping containers used by Indonesian shrimp importer BMS Foods. The Food and Drug Administration has not received any reports of illness related to any of the recalled shrimp products, and none of the recalled products have tested positive for Cs-137 at this time.
However, according to Aqua Star, the cocktail shrimp may have been “prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with Cs-137.”
The FDA continues to investigate and will post more information here as it becomes available.
Consumers with questions about the cocktail shrimp recall can call Aqua Star at 800-331-3440, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
