FDA detects radioactive contamination in spices as massive shrimp recall expands

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration blocked imports of spices this week from an Indonesian company amid widespread worries of radioactive contamination. 

Sarah Bregel

The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration blocked imports of spices this week from an
Indonesian company amid widespread worries of radioactive
contamination. 

The agency said it found cesium 137 in spices—specifically
cloves—from Indonesian company PT Natural Java Spice that were shipped
to California. The discovery marks the second food product imported from
Indonesia found to have radioactive contamination, as recalls of
potentially tainted imported shrimp expanded.

“Products from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati and from PT Natural Java
Spice will not be permitted to enter the U.S. market until these firms
provide the FDA with information to adequately demonstrate that they
have resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the
violations,” the FDA said in a statement issued Thursday. 

What is cesium 137?

Cesium 137 is a radioactive isotope that is formed during nuclear fission. It’s used in industry and chemotherapy, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
It is also present in the environment, largely due to nuclear weapons
testing and nuclear accidents, including the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and
2011’s Fukushima nuclear accident.

That environmental presence means trace amounts can be found in
food. Foods contaminated with cesium 137 may pose a “potential health
concern,” the FDA said, especially if people are exposed repeatedly to
the isotope.

The FDA is investigating the source of the contamination, it said.
The Associated Press reported that the International Atomic Energy
Agency, a nuclear watchdog, believes that the contamination may have come from an industrial site located near a shrimp processing plant in Indonesia. 

What products are affected by the FDA’s recall?

Since August, the FDA has issued multiple recalls of shrimp, with more products affected this week.

The list of recalled shrimp is as follows:

Aug. 21, 2025: Southwind Foods, LLC Recall

Aug. 22, 2025: Beaver Street Fisheries, LLC Recall

Aug. 27, 2025: AquaStar (USA) Corp Recall – Kroger Brand

Aug. 28, 2025: AquaStar (USA) Corp Recall – Aqua Star Brand

Aug. 29, 2025: Southwind Foods, LLC Recall – Expansion of original recall

Sept. 19, 2025: AquaStar (USA) Corp Recall – Expansion of original recall

Sept. 23, 2025: Southwind Foods, LLC Recall – Expansion of original recall

Sept. 23, 2025: Lawrence Wholesale, LLC Recall – Kroger Brand

The FDA said that none of the contaminated spices entered the U.S.
market, and that is has received no reports of illness stemming from
spice imports. The agency said it is continuing to investigate.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Bregel is a writer, editor, and single mom living in Baltimore. She’s contributed to New York Magazine, The Washington Post, Vice, InStyle, Slate, Parents, and others.

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