Key Takeaways
- The recall has expanded nationwide — Kroger frozen shrimp products and additional Southwind Foods shrimp have been recalled across more than 30 states due to possible Cesium-137 contamination.
- No illnesses have been reported yet — while the FDA confirmed no contaminated product has entered U.S. commerce, the shrimp is still considered unsafe due to possible exposure during shipping and handling in Indonesia.
- Consumers should avoid and return recalled shrimp — anyone who purchased the listed Kroger or Southwind shrimp products should not eat them, but instead dispose of them or return them for a full refund.
The ongoing radioactive shrimp recall has gone from bad to worse. According to a recent announcement from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Lawrence Wholesale LLC is recalling limited quantities of Kroger bagged frozen shrimp and Kroger frozen shrimp products because, like the Walmart shrimp recalled last month, they may have become contaminated with Cesium-137—a radioactive isotope that can have adverse health effects.
Per the recall notice from the FDA, the bagged frozen shrimp and shrimp cocktail products were distributed to and sold at Kroger stores in more than two dozen states. The states impacted by this shrimp recall are Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
The recalled Kroger products are as follows:
- Shrimp Bowl Cooked Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce (7 ounces)
UPC: 011110622952 Lot Numbers: 11325-H3A1, 11425-H3A1, 11525-H3A1, and 11625-H3A1 Best By Dates: 04/22/2027, 04/23/2027, 04/24/2027, and 04/25/2027 - Shrimp Cocktail with Cocktail Sauce (17 ounces)
UPC: 011110624840 Lot Numbers: 13725-H3A1 and 13825-H3A1 Best By Dates: 05/16/2027 and 05/17/2027 - Kroger Cooked Jumbo Tail-On, Peeled & Deveined 16/25 Shrimp
UPC: 011110649812 Lot Numbers: 11925-H3A1 and 12025-H3A1 Best By Dates: 04/28/2027 and 04/29/2027 - Kroger Cooked Medium Tail-On, Peeled & Deveined 51/60 Shrimp
UPC: 011110967015 Lot Numbers: 12225-H3A1 and 12325-H3A1 Best By Dates: 05/01/2027 and 05/02/2027
Additionally, a second announcement from the FDA details another recall initiated by Southwind Foods, LLC for the same possible Cesium-137 contamination. These shrimp were also bagged and frozen, and were distributed between June 24 and September 16, 2025, to retailers, distributors, and wholesalers in more than 33 states. The states impacted by this recall include: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Since the initial recall in August, the FDA has been actively investigating reports of Cs-137 contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products manufactured in Indonesia by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, which conducts business as BMS Foods.
Thankfully, no illnesses have been reported to date. Additionally, as noted in an earlier statement from the FDA, “no product that has tested positive or alerted for Cesium-137 (Cs-137) has entered the U.S. commerce.”
Still, the FDA is currently working with distributors and retailers that received products from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati after the date of first detection of Cs-137 by Customs & Border Protection (CBP), but from shipments that did not alert for Cs-137, to recommend that firms conduct a recall.
The FDA has also determined (in conjunction with other information) that products from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they appear “to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions,” whereby they may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and can pose a safety concern.
As the FDA points out, Cs-137 is a radioisotope of cesium. Trace amounts of it can be found in the environment, including in soil, food, and air, but prolonged exposure to even small amounts of Cs-137 correlates with a higher risk of cancer, as it can damage DNA in living cells.
Consumers who have purchased any of the aforementioned recalled bagged frozen shrimp or frozen shrimp products should not consume them. Instead, these items should be disposed of immediately or returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Shoppers with questions about the Kroger recall may contact the company at (323) 235-7535, Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT. Customers with questions about the Southwind Foods recall may contact the company at 1-323-262-8222, Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT.
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