Grocers are the last safety checkpoint before the food hits your cart, and in an exclusive letter we obtained from Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy, the two want to make sure that grocery stores are actually checking. You shouldn't have to use *** Geiger counter before you make sure that your shrimp is safe. In October, the FDA recalled frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia after tests detected caesium 137, *** radioactive material. Shrimp that the European Union would not accept was sent to us. Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, one of the country's top shrimp producing states, spoke with us in Exclusive interview about this letter he sent to Walmart, Albertson, and Kroger asking the grocery store chains to explain how the shrimp made it into US stores, whether they test the seafood before selling it, and whether they prioritize US caught shrimp over cheaper foreign imports. But I think it just shows you that the potential for shrimp that's coming from elsewhere did not meet our standards. *** new government report shows. Since 2018, FDA inspected less than 5% of the foreign food facilities federal law requires. They just don't have the resources to go in and test their way or inspect their way to safety. This food safety expert says federal food safety agencies have been understaffed for years, so the problem is not just shrimp or imports. You know, if I'm going to the grocery store, knowing that. Uh, the FDA only inspects *** certain amount of of imports of foreign imports. If I'm going to the grocery store, there's some risk that. That food item could be contaminated right any food item in the grocery store could be contaminated and so what you have to do is make *** decision on. Uh, based on risk, hospitalizations and deaths from contaminated food doubled last year, according to *** new report, and experts say the entire food system, from producers to grocers, are responsible for keeping your food safe. There's nothing we can do as *** consumer to take lead out of applesauce or radioactive materials out of shrimp. Walmart is the only grocery store that responded to us, and they told us that they get their shrimp from all over the globe, including the US Golf. Now the company said they received the letter from the senators. They do plan on responding to it, but also added that quote, the health and safety of our customers is always *** top priority at the White House. I'm Christopher Salas.
EXCLUSIVE: Senators launch inquiry on food safety amid concerns of possible radioactive shrimp contamination
Some U.S. senators are demanding answers from major grocery chains regarding food safety and supply chain procedures after an FDA warning over a processor's shrimp and possible radioactive contamination.
![Washington News Bureau logo]()
Updated: 8:24 PM CST Nov 6, 2025
Editorial Standards ⓘ
The FDA's recent precautionary recall of frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia due to possible radioactive contamination has led two U.S. senators to demand explanations from major grocery chains about their procedures to prevent contaminated shrimp from reaching shelves and their policies around recalls.Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy of Louisiana, a leading shrimp-producing state, have sent a letter to Walmart, Albertsons, and Kroger, asking them to clarify any quality and 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 FDA recently issued an advisory after identifying a shipping container and shipment of frozen shrimp from Indonesia that tested positive for the radioactive element Cesium-137. No contaminated product has been confirmed in U.S. stores, but the FDA did advise customers to throw away shrimp from the same processor.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 the 19,200 foreign food facilities it is required to inspect by law each year. 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."The Washington News Bureau reached out to all three grocery chains.At the time of this publication, only Walmart had responded, 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 to possible 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 John Kennedy of Louisiana, a leading shrimp-producing state, have sent a letter to , , and , 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 FDA recently issued an advisory after identifying a shipment of frozen shrimp from Indonesia that tested positive for Cesium-137. No contaminated product has been confirmed in U.S. stores, but the FDA did advise customers to throw away shrimp sold under the same name as a precaution
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 the 19,200 foreign food facilities it is required to inspect by law each year. 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.
