Ever wanted to know what radiation tastes like? Probably not, right? Well, just these past few weeks, the FDA has been recalling bags of frozen shrimp, imported from an Indonesian-based company, and shipped to Publix’s and Walmart’s around the country. These bags of frozen shrimp were found to contain cesium-137.
What is cesium-137, you might ask? Cesium-137 (Cs-137) is a soft and flexible metal that will turn into a liquid at room temperature. When found in the form of Cs-137, it is a highly radioactive material that is produced by nuclear fissions for several different devices and gadgets used in the medical field. It is also the byproduct of nuclear fission. Health officials warn people about radiation exposure. Radiation exposure can have serious long-term health complications for the human body. Exposure to this specific material through any means can cause a higher risk of cancer, radiation poisoning, and even death.
Both companies did recalls on this product; Walmart was the only company that ended up being majorly affected by the contaminated shrimp. As a precaution to prevent any major incidents from occurring, the FDA has begun to look into other shrimp-related products manufactured by the same company. None of the other products had contained any radiation. However, the FDA told the company to recall all of its products from the shelves and recommended that people should not eat the products sold by this company until further notice.
So far there have been no incidents reported of anyone getting ill or any side effects from ingesting the contaminated bags of frozen shrimp as of this time, but the FDA is still monitoring this situation and will continue to check the Indonesian-based companies for any more contaminated products. Keep an eye out for any recalls on products you might frequently purchase; contamination in the food industry happens frequently over long periods of time.
The brands affected by the Cs-137
- Great Value, sold only at Walmart locations
- Southwind Foods, which sells to California, Utah, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Arizona
- Aquastar; sold at Kroger and Martin Bros locations.
For the time being, avoid any of these Indonesian-based brands at your local grocery stores.
