In a startling food safety alert, retail behemoth Walmart has been forced to issue a nationwide recall for its popular 'Great Value' brand cooked shrimp. The drastic action comes after routine testing uncovered alarming evidence of radioactive contamination within the seafood products.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed the presence of unspecified "radioactive materials" in samples of the 2-pound frozen bags. This discovery has triggered an urgent public health warning, with officials advising consumers to immediately check their freezers.
Affected Products and What to Look For
The recall specifically targets the Great Value 2 lb. Bag of Frozen Cooked Shrimp (Peeled, Tail-Off, Cleaned, and Deveined). The affected batches are identifiable by the following codes printed on the packaging:
- Lot Codes: CCL22B14, CCL22B15, CCL22B16
- Best-By Dates: 12/14/2024, 12/15/2024, 12/16/2024
Consumers in possession of any product matching this description are urged not to consume it. The FDA advises either disposing of the shrimp immediately or returning it to a local Walmart store for a full refund.
The Potential Health Risks
While the exact type and level of radioactivity have not been publicly disclosed, the presence of any radioactive material in food presents a significant health hazard. Ingestion can lead to a range of serious issues, from acute radiation sickness to a heightened long-term risk of developing cancer.
The FDA's investigation into the source of the contamination is ongoing. The supply chain for the implicated shrimp is complex, with the seafood being sourced from India and then processed and packaged in Canada by the company Avanti Frozen Foods PVT LTD before being distributed across the United States under Walmart's house brand.
Official Response and Next Steps
Walmart has stated it is fully cooperating with the FDA and has activated its recall procedures to remove the potentially dangerous product from store shelves and its online marketplace. However, the sheer scale of Walmart's distribution network means some contaminated bags may already be in consumers' homes.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in global food supply chains and the critical importance of rigorous, continuous safety testing for all consumable goods.
