Sandbar Shrimp Recall Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Southwind Foods, LLC began a voluntary recall on August 21, 2025, and FDA posted the announcement that day. It covers a limited quantity of frozen shrimp, including Sand Bar raw shrimp. The reason is possible radionuclide (Cesium-137) contamination. Southwind Foods expanded the recall on September 23, 2025. As of October 7, 2025, FDA says its investigation into shrimp from an Indonesian processor is ongoing. Do not eat the recalled shrimp. Dispose of it, or return it to where you bought it for a full refund. Compare your bag with the identifiers listed below, and call Southwind Foods if you have questions.

Latest Sandbar Shrimp Recall Updates

October 7, 2025: FDA Updates Its Shrimp Advisory

FDA updated the advisory on imported frozen shrimp from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, doing business as BMS Foods. FDA says it will post all related recalls on one page going forward, and its investigation is ongoing [1]. FDA also says no product that tested positive or alerted for Cesium-137 (Cs-137) has entered the U.S. marketplace. If you recently bought impacted lots, FDA says to throw them away and not eat or serve them.

September 25, 2025: Derrick Young Files Suit Against Southwind Foods

Derrick Young filed Young v. Southwind Foods, LLC, Case No. 5:25-cv-02538, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California [2]. The complaint is filed for the plaintiff and others similarly situated. Southwind Foods, the company that announced the Sand Bar recall, is the named defendant. The docket lists Walmart Inc. and Beaver Street Fisheries, LLC as parties.

September 23, 2025: Southwind Foods Expands Its Recall

Southwind Foods expanded its recall, and FDA posted the company announcement the same day [3]. The shrimp was distributed between June 24 and September 16, 2025 to retailers, distributors, and wholesalers in 34 states. The notice links a product details list [4]. The list names the Sand Bar 2 lb raw shrimp bags in two sizes, 21/25 and 31/40.

August 29, 2025: Southwind Foods Posts an Updated Notice

Southwind Foods posted an updated notice for its recall, and FDA published it the same day [5]. FDA says it does not endorse either the product or the company. The updated notice repeated the nine states and the July 17 to August 8, 2025 distribution window to retailers, distributors, and wholesalers. It kept the advice for consumers not to eat the shrimp.

August 21, 2025: Southwind Foods Begins a Voluntary Recall

Southwind Foods, LLC of Carson, California announced a voluntary recall of frozen shrimp, and FDA posted the original notice that day [6]. The notice lists the Sand Bar 31/40 raw shrimp 2 lb bag among the recalled items. It gives no recall number or unit count. The shrimp was distributed between July 17 and August 8, 2025 in nine states.

August 19, 2025: FDA Posts Its First Advisory

FDA first posted the advisory on shrimp processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati. U.S. Customs and Border Protection alerted FDA to Cs-137 in shipping containers at four ports: Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah and Miami. FDA took several samples for radionuclide testing. The results confirmed Cs-137 in one sample of breaded shrimp. FDA denied entry to every container and product with a positive test or an alert for Cs-137.

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

FDA posted import alert 99-51 for chemical contamination under section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. It added PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati to the red list because of the presence of Cs-137. FDA says the alert keeps implicated shrimp products out of U.S. commerce. That holds until the company resolves the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the violation.

What Is Cesium-137?

According to EPA, cesium is a soft, flexible, silvery-white metal. Its most common radioactive form is Cs-137 [7]. EPA says Cs-137 is produced by nuclear fission for use in medical devices and gauges. EPA also says Cs-137 is a byproduct of nuclear fission in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons testing. FDA says traces of Cs-137 are widespread. They can be present in the environment at background levels.

Which Sandbar Shrimp Are Affected?

FDA names these Sand Bar 2 lb raw frozen shrimp bags in the Southwind Foods recall:

• Sand Bar frozen raw shrimp, 31/40 count, 2 lb bag: item 08890, UPC 011110641182, lot 087305
• Sand Bar frozen raw shrimp, 21/25 count, 2 lb bag: UPC 011110641168, named in the product details list

Compare the bag in your freezer with these identifiers. The August 21 notice gives the item number, UPC and lot for the 31/40 bag. The same recall also covers other brands in FDA’s brand field: Arctic Shores, Best Yet, Great American and First Street. The notices describe a limited quantity.

Why Was Sandbar Shrimp Recalled?

Sandbar Shrimp was recalled because of possible radionuclide (Cesium-137) contamination, according to the Southwind Foods notice of August 21, 2025. FDA is actively investigating reports of Cs-137 contamination in shipping containers. It is also investigating frozen shrimp products from the Indonesian firm PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati. FDA’s recalls page lists the Southwind Foods recall among the 2025 shrimp recalls tied to that firm [8]. The notices do not say that Sand Bar shrimp itself tested positive. FDA determined that product from this firm violates federal food law. FDA says the product appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions. FDA says the product may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern. It also says testing to date has not confirmed contamination in any product in commerce.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

The notices say no illnesses have been reported as of the latest Southwind Foods notice, dated September 23, 2025. They do not report a test result for any Sand Bar bag. FDA names a concern about longer-term exposure to Cs-137 in the body. The primary health effect of concern after repeated low-dose exposure, for example through eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water over time, is an elevated risk of cancer. FDA says this risk results from damage to DNA within living cells of the body. This is FDA’s statement of the concern. It is not a finding that any person was harmed.

What Should Consumers Do?

Follow these steps if you have the recalled frozen shrimp listed above:

1. Do not eat the shrimp, and check the bag against the identifiers FDA lists for Sand Bar shrimp.
2. Throw away any bag that matches, or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
3. Call Southwind Foods, LLC with questions at 1-323-262-8222, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm Pacific Time.
4. Report a complaint or adverse event, such as an illness or serious allergic reaction, through FDA’s Industry and Consumer Assistance. You can also call FDA at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).
5. If you suspect you were exposed to elevated levels of cesium, talk to your healthcare provider.

Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions

FDA’s recalls page lists separate recalls by other companies that tie to the same Indonesian firm, including AquaStar, Lawrence Wholesale and Beaver Street Fisheries. The AquaStar recall notice of August 27, 2025 covers about 18,000 bags of Kroger Mercado cooked shrimp from AquaStar (USA) Corp [9]. AquaStar’s expansion followed on September 19, 2025 [10]. Lawrence Wholesale’s notice of September 23, 2025 covers Kroger bagged frozen shrimp, including shrimp cocktail [11]. Beaver Street Fisheries, LLC recalled Great Value frozen raw shrimp sold at select Walmart stores on August 22, 2025.

Legal Options

The Young complaint is styled for a proposed class, and a recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation. As of October 1, 2026, no multidistrict litigation (MDL) has been formed over the frozen shrimp recalls. You can also read our shrimp recall lawsuit page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sandbar Shrimp Safe to Eat?

Whether Sandbar Shrimp is safe to eat depends on the recall. FDA says not to eat it and found Cs-137 at about 68 Bq/kg in one detained shipment that never entered U.S. commerce. FDA says that level would pose no acute hazard, but long-term exposure is a concern.

Is There a Sandbar Shrimp Recall Lawsuit?

Yes, a lawsuit names Southwind Foods, the company behind the Sandbar Shrimp recall. The Young docket lists Kenly Kiya Kato as the assigned judge and A. Joel Richlin as the referred magistrate judge, and the plaintiff demanded a jury.

Which Brands Were Named in the Frozen Shrimp Recalls?

The frozen shrimp recalls named these brands in FDA’s list of related recalls, besides the Southwind brands named earlier: Great Value, Kroger Mercado, Kroger, Market 32, Waterfront Bistro, Sea Port, AquaStar, Best Yet and Publix.

Which States Received the Recalled Shrimp?

The recalled shrimp reached nine states in the original Southwind notice: Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and Washington. The September 23 notice adds more, including Colorado, Florida, New York and Texas.

What Can Cs-137 Exposure Do to the Body?

Cs-137 exposure can increase cancer risk, according to EPA. Internal exposure through ingestion or inhalation spreads the material in soft tissues, especially muscle tissue. External exposure to large amounts, which are not found in the environment under normal circumstances, can cause burns, acute radiation sickness and even death.

What Did FDA’s Testing Find in the Shrimp Samples?

FDA’s testing of shrimp samples found Cs-137 at 68.48 Bq/kg, plus or minus 8.25 Bq/kg, in one sample of frozen breaded shrimp. It found no detectable Cs-137 in the other four shrimp products tested, though FDA says that does not rule out contamination.

References

1. https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-public-not-eat-sell-or-serve-certain-imported-frozen-shrimp-indonesian-firm
2. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71458146/derrick-young-v-southwind-foods-llc/
3. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/updated-release-southwind-foods-llc-recalls-frozen-shrimp-because-possible-health-risk-0
4. https://www.fda.gov/media/188883/download
5. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/updated-release-southwind-foods-llc-recalls-frozen-shrimp-because-possible-health-risk
6. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/southwind-foods-llc-recalls-frozen-shrimp-because-possible-health-risk
7. https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radionuclide-basics-cesium-137
8. https://www.fda.gov/safety/major-product-recalls/2025-recalls-frozen-shrimp-products-associated-cesium-137-contamination-pt-bahari-makmur-sejati-due
9. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/aquastar-usa-corp-recalls-kroger-mercado-frozen-cooked-shrimp-because-possible-health-risk
10. 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
11. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lawrence-wholesale-llc-recalls-kroger-bagged-frozen-shrimp-and-kroger-frozen-shrimp-products-because