August 20, 2025 | 06:26 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised the public not to consume, sell, or serve dishes containing frozen shrimp produced by PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods), Indonesia, citing suspected radioactive isotope contamination.
“FDA is actively investigating reports of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati (doing business as BMS Foods) of Indonesia,” the agency said in an official statement on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
The FDA said the case originated from a report by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which detected Cs-137 in shipping containers at the ports of Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami.
The agency collected several samples for radionuclide testing and found traces of Cs-137 in one breaded shrimp sample. The FDA added that "all containers and product testing positive or alerting for Cs-137 have been denied entry into the country."
According to the agency, the detected Cs-137 levels in the breaded shrimp sample could pose potential health risks, including cancer, if consumed over an extended period.
The withdrawal measure was taken to reduce long-term exposure to low-level radiation, which may cause adverse health effects with prolonged contact.
As of now, the FDA has not confirmed whether the frozen shrimp products are conclusively contaminated with radioactive materials. However, it ruled that BMS Foods’ frozen shrimp violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The products were deemed to have been packaged and stored under unhygienic conditions, making them susceptible to Cs-137 contamination.
Following the findings, the FDA has asked U.S. retailer Walmart, which distributes the shrimp, to pull three BMS Foods shrimp products from its shelves. The agency added that it will continue coordinating with CBP to prevent contaminated products from reaching consumers.
The FDA will also work with Indonesian seafood regulatory authorities to investigate the root cause of the contamination.
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