EXCLUSIVE: How did radioactive shrimp end up on US shelves? Senators launch inquiry into grocery chains

Some U.S. senators are demanding answers from major grocery chains after the FDA flagged imported shrimp for radioactive contamination, raising concerns about food safety and testing practices.

Updated: 3:04 PM CST Nov 6, 2025

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The FDA’s recent recall of frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia due to radioactive contamination has led two U.S. senators to demand explanations from major grocery chains about how the shrimp ended up in American stores and what measures are being taken to prevent future incidents.Sens. Bill Cassidy and Ted Kennedy of Louisiana, a leading shrimp-producing state, have sent a letter to Walmart, Albertsons, and Kroger, asking them to clarify their testing procedures and whether they prioritize U.S.-caught shrimp over cheaper foreign imports. “You shouldn’t have to use a Geiger counter before you make sure that your shrimp is safe,” Sen. Cassidy told our Washington News Bureau exclusively. He also noted, “Shrimp that the European Union would not accept was sent to us instead.“The issue highlights broader concerns about food safety, as a Government Accountability Office report reveals that since 2018, the FDA has inspected less than 5% of foreign food facilities, far below the annual target of 19,200 inspections required by federal law. Barbara Kowalcyk, a food safety expert, explained, “They just don’t have the resources to go in and test their way or inspect their way to safety.“Kowalcyk emphasized that the problem extends beyond shrimp or imports, stating, “Any food item in the grocery store could be contaminated, and so what you have to do is make a decision based on risk.” She added, “There’s nothing we can do as a consumer to take lead out of apple sauce or radioactive materials out of shrimp.“Walmart responded to the inquiry, stating that it sources shrimp globally, including from the U.S. Gulf, and plans to address the senators’ concerns, asserting, “The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority.“While experts do not necessarily recommend prioritizing American-made food over foreign imports for safety, they advise consumers to focus on transparency regarding the origin and testing of food products. Despite the number of recalls not increasing, a new report indicates that hospitalizations and deaths from contaminated food more than doubled last year, affecting a range of products from cucumbers to deli meat.

WASHINGTON —

The FDA’s recent recall of frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia due toradioactive contamination has led two U.S. senators to demand explanations from major grocery chains about how the shrimp ended up in American stores and what measures are being taken to prevent future incidents.

Sens. Bill Cassidy and Ted Kennedy of Louisiana, a leading shrimp-producing state, have sent a letter to Walmart, Albertsons, and Kroger, asking them to clarify their testing procedures and whether they prioritize U.S.-caught shrimp over cheaper foreign imports.

“You shouldn’t have to use a Geiger counter before you make sure that your shrimp is safe,” Sen. Cassidy told our Washington News Bureau exclusively. He also noted, “Shrimp that the European Union would not accept was sent to us instead.”

The issue highlights broader concerns about food safety, as a Government Accountability Office report reveals that since 2018, the FDA has inspected less than 5% of foreign food facilities, far below the annual target of 19,200 inspections required by federal law. Barbara Kowalcyk, a food safety expert, explained, “They just don’t have the resources to go in and test their way or inspect their way to safety.”

Kowalcyk emphasized that the problem extends beyond shrimp or imports, stating, “Any food item in the grocery store could be contaminated, and so what you have to do is make a decision based on risk.” She added, “There’s nothing we can do as a consumer to take lead out of apple sauce or radioactive materials out of shrimp.”

Walmart responded to the inquiry, stating that it sources shrimp globally, including from the U.S. Gulf, and plans to address the senators’ concerns, asserting, “The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority.”

While experts do not necessarily recommend prioritizing American-made food over foreign imports for safety, they advise consumers to focus on transparency regarding the origin and testing of food products. Despite the number of recalls not increasing, a new report indicates that hospitalizations and deaths from contaminated food more than doubled last year, affecting a range of products from cucumbers to deli meat.