Contaminated metal at an Indonesian industrial facility appears to be the culprit behind radioactive shrimp that triggered massive recalls across U.S. grocery stores, international nuclear officials revealed Friday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed they’re working closely with Indonesian regulators who detected Cesium-137—a radioactive isotope—at a processing plant that shipped millions of pounds of frozen shrimp to American ports.
What We Know So Far
The contamination likely originated from a metal melting facility at the same industrial site in Serang, west of Jakarta, or from scrap metal disposal in the area, according to the IAEA. The exporter, PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods), has already recalled more than 300 shipping containers headed to the U.S.
Here’s the scope: BMS Foods sent approximately 12 million pounds of shrimp to ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah between July and August, trade records show.
The FDA first raised alarms last month after detecting Cesium-137 in shipping containers at four U.S. ports and in frozen shrimp samples. That discovery sparked recalls at major retailers including Walmart and Kroger. This week, Tampa Maid Foods joined the recall list, pulling breaded butterfly shrimp sold under various brand names.
Understanding the Risk
While the contamination sounds scary, the actual health risk appears limited. The FDA detected radiation levels of about 68 becquerels per kilogram in the shrimp—well below the agency’s safety threshold of 1,200 becquerels per kilogram.
Still, even low-level exposure to Cesium-137 over time could pose health concerns, FDA officials noted. The agency has blocked all shrimp imports from BMS Foods to prevent further contaminated products from entering the country.
How Did This Happen?
Cesium-137 is commonly used in medical devices for cancer treatment and blood decontamination.
When old equipment gets recycled without proper removal of radioactive materials, the contamination can spread like salt from a shaker—potentially contaminating entire facilities and their products.
The Response
U.S. officials haven’t sent investigators to Indonesia yet, but the National Nuclear Security Administration has deployed emergency teams domestically to assess and contain the contamination at American ports.
The IAEA maintains “constant contact” with Indonesian nuclear regulators as they work to identify and eliminate the contamination source. Meanwhile, none of the radioactive shrimp that triggered alerts made it to store shelves, though other shipments from the same facility may have reached consumers before the contamination was discovered.
The key now? Tracking down every potentially contaminated shipment and ensuring proper cleanup at the source—a job that requires specialized expertise to prevent further spread of radioactive materials.
