The most recent recall concerns approximately 18,000 bags of cooked frozen shrimp sold under Kroger’s Mercado brand at grocery chains including Baker’s, Gerbes, Jay C, Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Supermarkets, and Pick ’n Save. The affected products are marked with lot codes 10662 5139 or 10662 5140 and have “best by” dates of Nov. 19 or 20, 2027.
According to seafood wholesaler Aqua Star, the company that issued the recall, the 2-pound bags of shrimp were sold in stores between July 24 and Aug. 11 in these 17 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
The announcement follows the recall of six other brands of frozen shrimp for possible radioactive contamination. On Aug. 19, Walmart recalled certain lots of its Great Value frozen raw white vannamei shrimp sold at stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.
Three days later, seafood company Southwind Foods issued a recall for the following raw and cooked shrimp products:
• Arctic Shores Frozen Large Cooked Shrimp 31/40, 1-pound bags, lot number 109562
• Arctic Shores Frozen Small Cooked Shrimp 61/70, 1-pound bags, lot number 109540
• Arctic Shores Frozen Small Cooked Shrimp 91/120, 12-ounce bags, lot number 109541
• Arctic Shores Frozen Cooked Salad Shrimp 150/200, 6-ounce bags, lot number 109542
• Best Yet Frozen Cooked Shrimp 31/40, 1-pound bags, lot numbers 095944 and 111154
• Best Yet Frozen Cooked Shrimp 41/50, 1-pound bags, lot number 095946
• First Street Frozen Raw Shrimp 16/20, 2-pound bags, lot number 130632
• Great American Frozen Raw Shrimp 16/20, 2-pound bags, lot number 125143
• Great American Frozen Raw Shrimp 71/90, 2-pound bags, lot number 128267
• Great American Frozen Raw Shrimp 41/60, 2-pound bags, lot number 128275
• Great American Frozen Cooked Shrimp Meat, 1-pound bags, lot number 134010
• Sand Bar Frozen Raw Shrimp 31/40, 2-pound bags, lot number 087305
The Southwind Foods brands of frozen shrimp were sent to retailers, distributors, and wholesalers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state between July 17 and Aug. 8. It’s still unclear whether the shrimp was sold in stores or incorporated into prepared food products.
If you have one of these products, do not eat it. Throw it away or return it to the store where you purchased it for a full refund.
No illnesses related to any of the recalled shrimp have been reported. The health risks, if the shrimp were indeed contaminated with Cs-137, would come from continued exposure over a long period of time, according to the FDA.
The FDA continues to investigate and will post more information as it becomes available.
