Exciting News: Walmart's Shrimp Exhibit Minimal Radiation Levels
In a recent development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory regarding certain batches of Walmart's Great Value frozen shrimp. The contamination, which originated from improper handling and processing practices at shrimp farms and processing facilities in India, has led to bacterial contamination and the presence of Cesium-137, an isotope not naturally found in food and produced in nuclear reactors.
The contaminated shrimp, initially believed to have originated from India, were later found to have been imported from Indonesia. FDA labs confirmed the presence of Cesium-137 in one sample of breaded frozen shrimp, with about 68 becquerels per kilogram. This level is below the dangerous threshold set by the FDA, which considers a food to be dangerously contaminated once it reaches 1,200 Bq/kg. However, it is still higher than the common safety threshold in Europe, which is 100 Bq/kg.
Despite the detected levels being below the dangerous threshold, the FDA advises that if you purchased an impacted lot of Great Value raw frozen shrimp from Walmart, you should throw it away and not eat or serve it. The agency suggests that the shrimp may have been prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions.
The source of the contamination remains unknown. UC Berkeley health physicist Phil Broughton speculates that the contamination might be due to industrial corner-cutting, such as companies reusing shipping containers without cleaning them. Planetary scientist Michael Busch believes the contamination probably happened in the supply chain, not in the shrimp pond.
This incident serves as a reminder of the potential threat of radioactive contamination in our food systems. While the contamination was detected by Customs and Border Protection scanners at four U.S. ports, it underscores the importance of vigilance in food safety. The incident exposes bigger cracks in our food system, as global supply chains are only as good as the weakest link in the chain.
Scientists on the social media platform Bluesky have offered theories about the contamination of Walmart's Great Value frozen shrimp. It is important to note that Cesium-137 is a byproduct of nuclear fission, associated with the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents.
Contrary to initial reports, the contaminated shrimp were never sold at Walmart. However, a warning was issued for shrimp lots sold in 13 states. The FDA's ability to catch contaminated batches could be compromised if the agency is weakened, emphasizing the need for continued support and funding for food safety initiatives.
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