Radioactive Shrimp Recall Hits Kroger

Shalena
Aug 31
2 min read

Chile… just when we thought 2025 couldn’t get any messier, now we gotta check our freezers for radioactive shrimp. Yes, you read that right. The FDA just extended a massive recall to Kroger, and the shrimp tea is boiling. Let’s get into it.

What Happened?

On August 29, 2025, the FDA announced that nearly 18,000 bags of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp (2 lb) are being recalled in 17 states. This isn’t just Kroger—sister stores like Baker’s, Gerbes, Jay C, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less, and Pick ‘n Save are also tied up in this shrimp scandal.

The reason? The shrimp may be contaminated with Cesium-137 (Cs-137), a radioactive isotope linked to nuclear reactors and medical devices.

Hold Up—Radioactive Shrimp?!

Now before you run screaming from your freezer, here’s the deal:

So far, no illnesses have been reported.
No shrimp at Kroger stores tested positive for radiation at the consumer level.
But, FDA inspectors found concerning levels during testing—so they’re pulling products before it becomes a bigger issue.

Experts say the levels found (~68 Bq/kg) are way lower than the danger limit (~1,200 Bq/kg). Still, radiation is radiation, and long-term exposure? Baby, that’s not something to play with.

The Domino Effect of This Recall

This isn’t just Kroger—it’s been a whole saga all month:

August 18–19: Walmart’s Great Value shrimp got flagged first.
August 21: Southwind Foods joined the recall mess.
August 25: More brands added, like Arctic Shores, Sand Bar, Best Yet, and First Street.
August 27–28: AquaStar (USA) Corp recalled tens of thousands of packages of Kroger shrimp and cocktail shrimp sold at Walmart.

It’s basically been a shrimp shuffle, with one company after another stepping into the recall spotlight.

How to Know If You Have the Bad Shrimp

Check your freezer for Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp (2 lb) with these details:

UPC: 011110626196
Lot Codes: 10662 5139 (Best Before 11/19/2027) OR 10662 5140 (Best Before 11/20/2027)
Sold Between: July 24 and August 11, 2025

If you’ve got it, don’t eat it. Take it back to the store for a refund or toss it out.

Reddit’s Take: Always a Mess

Of course, Reddit is clowning:

One user joked, “Literally glowing.”
Another pointed out you’d have to eat a kilo of shrimp every day for a year to even get close to the FDA danger level.

Still, nobody wants to show up to Thanksgiving with glow-in-the-dark cocktail shrimp.

The Bigger Picture

No health issues yet, but the FDA isn’t taking chances.
Indonesia’s BMS Foods, the supplier, is under a full import alert now.
Shoppers are being told: better safe than sorry.

Listen, sis. The odds of you actually glowing from Kroger shrimp are slim. But when the FDA says “recall,” you already know it’s serious.

This is yet another reminder to:

Pay attention to recall alerts.
Check your freezer before cooking.
Stay informed—because food safety is real.

For now, maybe stick to salmon, crab legs, or even canned tuna until this whole shrimp saga settles down.

What do you think—are you tossing your shrimp stash, or are you side-eyeing Kroger for letting it get this far? Drop your thoughts in the comments, because this one’s giving messy but dangerous.