After massive shrimp recalls, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has detected radioactive contamination in spices. The federal agency detected possible radioactive contamination in a second food product sent to the United States from Indonesia, after the shrimp.
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This comes soon after the import alert imposed in August on the company PT Bahari Makmuri Sejati, or BMS Foods, which sends millions of pounds of shrimp to the US each year. Here’s everything you need to know about why the FDA blocked the import of spices from PT Natural Java Spice of Indonesia.
What is cesium 137?
Cesium 137 is a radioactive isotope, formed as a byproduct of nuclear reactions, including nuclear bombs, testing, reactor operations, and accidents. This radioactive isotope is widespread globally, and its trace amounts are found in the environment, including soil, food, and air.
The shrimp recall was initiated after the US Customs and Border Protection officials detected cesium 137 in the shipping containers of shrimp sent by PT Bahari Makmur Sejati to several US ports. The officials informed the FDA about the potential contamination, and upon testing the samples of the shrimp, they found traces of cesium 137 in one sample of breaded shrimp.
According to the data from Import Genius, a trade data analysis company, this company has sent about 84 million pounds (38 million kilograms) of shrimp to U.S. ports this year. This constitutes about 6% of foreign shrimp imported in the US.
Radioactive contamination in cloves
Following the shrimp recall, this month, the FDA found cesium 137 in one sample of cloves exported by PT Natural Java Spice, the company that imports spices to the US and other countries. As per the records, this company sent about 440,000 pounds ( 200,000 kilograms) of cloves to the U.S. this year.
Should you be concerned?
The FDA has confirmed that no food that triggered alerts or tested positive has been released for sale in the US. However, hundreds of thousands of packages of shrimp sold at
Kroger and other grocery stores across the US have been recalled, as they may have been manufactured under conditions that allowed them to be contaminated.
While the risk seems minimal, prolonged exposure to low levels of cesium 137 in these foods could present a ‘potential health concern’. Though the levels of contamination detected are far below the level of concern, long-time exposure, even at such low doses, could still gradually raise the risk of certain types of cancer over many years of regular consumption.
What should you do?
The FDA has advised to avoid eating or serving the shrimp recalled due to
cesium 137 contamination. Here is a list of the recalls of shrimp since August.
1. Aug. 21, 2025: Southwind Foods, LLC Recall
2. Aug. 22, 2025: Beaver Street Fisheries, LLC Recall
3. Aug. 27, 2025: AquaStar (USA) Corp Recall – Kroger Brand
4. Aug. 28, 2025: AquaStar (USA) Corp Recall – Aqua Star Brand
5. Aug. 29, 2025: Southwind Foods, LLC Recall – Expansion of original recall
6. Sept. 19, 2025: AquaStar (USA) Corp Recall – Expansion of original recall
7. Sept. 23, 2025: Southwind Foods, LLC Recall – Expansion of original recall
8. Sept. 23, 2025: Lawrence Wholesale, LLC Recall – Kroger Brand
(With inputs from AP)
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