Cooked Frozen Shrimp Recall Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

AquaStar (USA) Corp recalled Kroger Mercado cooked frozen shrimp because it may be contaminated with cesium-137. On August 28, 2025, FDA posted the company announcement. The recall was later expanded, and FDA’s investigation is ongoing. The recalled bags (net wt. 2 lbs) were sold at Kroger stores under UPC 011110626196. FDA lists four lot codes. The company added two of those lots on September 19, 2025. FDA says no illnesses have been reported to date. FDA names an elevated risk of cancer after longer, repeated low-dose exposure as its concern. Do not eat the shrimp. Dispose of them or return them for a full refund.

Latest Cooked Frozen Shrimp Recall Updates

October 31, 2025: FDA Requires Import Certification for Some Indonesian Shrimp

Effective October 31, 2025, FDA requires import certification for shrimp from the island of Java and the province of Lampung on Sumatra, Indonesia. FDA says the certification gives assurance that the shrimp is not contaminated with Cesium-137 [1]. The requirement is listed as Import Alert 99-52. Another import alert works alongside it and detains shipments from named firms. FDA says its investigation is ongoing.

September 23, 2025: Lawrence Wholesale Recalls Kroger Shrimp Items

Lawrence Wholesale LLC of Vernon, CA recalled a limited quantity of Kroger bagged frozen shrimp and Kroger frozen shrimp products. They may have become contaminated with cesium-137. FDA published the announcement the same day [2]. FDA lists this recall as completed and terminated. The AquaStar notices carry no such banner. Lawrence Wholesale’s recall includes cooked Kroger shrimp items with best by dates from 04/22/2027 to 05/17/2027.

September 21, 2025: FDA Posts AquaStar’s Expanded Recall

FDA posted AquaStar’s expanded recall notice on September 21, 2025. The company announcement is dated September 20, 2025, and the notice says AquaStar was recalling on September 19, 2025 [3]. The notice adds two Kroger Mercado cooked shrimp lots that the earlier notice did not list. It also covers raw shrimp. It gives a sales window of June 12, 2025 to September 17, 2025.

August 28, 2025: FDA Posts AquaStar’s Kroger Mercado Recall

FDA posted AquaStar’s company announcement, dated August 27, 2025. It recalls approximately 18,000 bags (net wt. 2 lbs) of Kroger Mercado cooked shrimp [4]. The recalling company is AquaStar (USA) Corp of Seattle, WA. The notice says the shrimp was sold between July 24, 2025 and August 11, 2025. It lists UPC 011110626196 and lots 10662 5139 and 10662 5140.

August 21, 2025: Southwind Foods Recalls Frozen Shrimp

Southwind Foods, LLC of Carson, CA issued a recall for a limited quantity of frozen shrimp. The labels include Sand Bar, Arctic Shores, Best Yet, Great American and First Street, and some bags are cooked [5]. The notice cites possible radionuclide (Cesium-137) contamination. It says the shrimp was distributed between July 17, 2025 and August 8, 2025 in nine states. FDA posted the notice the same day.

August 19, 2025: FDA Issues an Advisory on Cs-137 in Imported Shrimp

FDA issued an advisory about Cs-137 in shipping containers and frozen shrimp processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, doing business as BMS Foods, of Indonesia [6]. Customs officers alerted FDA to Cs-137 in containers at four U.S. ports. FDA’s lab confirmed Cs-137 in one sample of breaded shrimp at 68.48 Bq/kg +/- 8.25 Bq/kg. That is below FDA’s derived intervention level of 1200 Bq/kg.

August 14, 2025: FDA Posts Import Alert 99-51

FDA posted Import Alert 99-51 for chemical contamination and added PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati to its red list because of Cs-137 [7]. The alert applies to all shrimp products from the firm. FDA’s advisory says the import alert ensures that no implicated shrimp products will enter U.S. commerce until the company resolves the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the violation.

What Is Cesium-137?

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the most common radioactive form of cesium is Cs-137. It is also one of the byproducts of nuclear fission in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons testing [8]. EPA says exposure to Cs-137 can increase the risk for cancer because of the presence of high-energy gamma radiation. That statement is general and is not a finding about this shrimp.

Which Cooked Frozen Shrimp Are Affected?

FDA lists one product, Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp, recalled by AquaStar in four lots:

• Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp, net wt. 2 lbs, UPC 011110626196, lots 10662 5139 (Best Before 11/19/2027) and 10662 5140 (Best Before 11/20/2027)
• Added in the expanded notice, lots 10662 5112 11 (Best Before 10 22 2027) and 10662 5113 10 (Best Before 10 23 2027)

The bag is clear plastic with a white label with green stripes on top. The notices list these codes but do not say where on the bag they are printed. Cooked shrimp from other companies is covered under Other Recalls.

Why Was Cooked Frozen Shrimp Recalled?

AquaStar recalled the shrimp because it may have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions. Under those conditions it may have been contaminated with cesium-137 (Cs-137). The notice names PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati. FDA determined that product from that firm violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in that it appears to have been handled under those same insanitary conditions. FDA says the product may pose a safety concern. On August 19, 2025, FDA said that no product that tested positive or alerted for Cesium-137 has entered U.S. commerce. FDA is investigating the containers and frozen shrimp from that firm. It is working with Indonesian seafood regulatory authorities on the root cause.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

Neither FDA notice for the Kroger Mercado cooked shrimp reports any illnesses to date. The first notice is dated August 27, 2025, and the expanded notice is dated September 20, 2025. The notices do not mention injuries or deaths, and they name no separate FDA reporting line. FDA’s stated concern is an elevated risk of cancer, resulting from damage to DNA within living cells, after longer term, repeated low dose exposure. EPA also says that, in general, internal exposure to Cs-137 through ingestion or inhalation spreads the radioactive material in soft tissue, especially muscle tissue, and that this increases cancer risk.

What Should Consumers Do?

If you bought the recalled cooked shrimp, take these steps:

1. Check the UPC and lot code on your bag against the recall list on this page.
2. Do not eat the shrimp, and dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
3. You can call AquaStar (USA) Corp with questions at 1-800-331-3440, Monday-Friday, 8am-5 pm PST.
4. For Kroger cooked items from Lawrence Wholesale LLC, call (323) 235-7535, Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm PT.
5. FDA’s general contact number, as printed on its notice pages, is 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).
6. If you suspect you have been exposed to elevated levels of cesium, talk to your healthcare provider.

Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions

Southwind’s cooked Great American items are covered on the Great American shrimp recall page. AquaStar also recalled 26,460 packages of Cocktail Shrimp 6oz, sold refrigerated at Walmart. AquaStar’s notice does not call the product cooked [9].

Legal Options

A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation. A person’s own facts and a legal review decide whether a claim is possible. Young v. Southwind Foods, case 5:25-cv-02538, was filed on September 25, 2025 in the U.S. District Court, C.D. California [10]. The docket lists Southwind Foods, Beaver Street Fisheries and Walmart as defendants. On November 7, 2025, the plaintiff filed a notice of dismissal as to Southwind Foods. The docket text read does not describe the claims or say which product the case concerns. See the shrimp recall lawsuit page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Was the Recalled Kroger Shrimp Sold?

The recalled Kroger shrimp was sold at 8 banners in 17 states under the first notice. The expanded notice lists 18 banners in 31 states, in one list for all three items it recalls. The 18 banners include Baker’s, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Smith’s and QFC.

Did FDA Find Radioactive Shrimp in Stores?

FDA’s tests for radioactive shrimp sampled five different shrimp products. The other four had no detectable Cs-137, though FDA says that does not rule out contamination. The August 19, 2025 entry above describes the one positive sample.

Which Kroger Shrimp Items Did Lawrence Wholesale Recall?

Lawrence Wholesale recalled four Kroger shrimp items. Shrimp Bowl with Cocktail Sauce 7 oz has UPC 011110622952, and Shrimp Cocktail 17 oz has UPC 011110624840. Cooked Jumbo 16/25 has UPC 011110649812, and Cooked Medium 51/60 has UPC 011110967015. Kroger sold them in 31 states.

Did Southwind Foods Expand Its Shrimp Recall?

Southwind Foods did expand its shrimp recall, according to FDA’s advisory update. On September 23, 2025, it added frozen shrimp distributed between June 24, 2025 and September 16, 2025 in 34 states. The text does not say which items are cooked. Call 1-323-262-8222 with questions.

Did the AquaStar Recall Include Raw Shrimp?

Yes, the expanded AquaStar notice also covered raw shrimp. It lists about 49,920 bags of Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp and about 17,264 bags of AquaStar Raw Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers.

Can I Sue over Cooked Frozen Shrimp If I Feel Fine?

Whether you can sue over cooked frozen shrimp if you feel fine depends on the facts of your situation and on a legal review. The Young v. Southwind Foods docket’s last known filing, on November 20, 2025, is titled Voluntary Dismissal of a Case.

How Long Will Import Certification Last?

Import certification will last until FDA determines the risk of Cesium-137 contamination is no longer associated with products from the regions of concern. Since September 18, 2025, FDA’s import alert listing has also applied to all shrimp and spice products from the identified firms.

References

1. https://www.fda.gov/food/environmental-contaminants-food/fda-response-imported-foods-potentially-contaminated-cesium-137
2. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lawrence-wholesale-llc-recalls-kroger-bagged-frozen-shrimp-and-kroger-frozen-shrimp-products-because
3. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/aquastar-usa-corp-recalls-kroger-frozen-raw-ez-peel-kroger-mercado-frozen-cooked-shrimp-and-aquastar
4. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/aquastar-usa-corp-recalls-kroger-mercado-frozen-cooked-shrimp-because-possible-health-risk
5. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/southwind-foods-llc-recalls-frozen-shrimp-because-possible-health-risk
6. https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-public-not-eat-sell-or-serve-certain-imported-frozen-shrimp-indonesian-firm
7. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_1187.html
8. https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radionuclide-basics-cesium-137
9. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/aquastar-usa-corp-recalls-cocktail-shrimp-6oz-because-possible-health-risk
10. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71458146/derrick-young-v-southwind-foods-llc/