FDA to Require Certification on Shrimp, Spices After Radioactive Contamination

By Katherine Hamilton

The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it will now require import certification for shrimp and spices from certain regions of Indonesia following a bout of shrimp recalls related to radioactive exposure.

The requirement comes after U.S. Customs and Border Protection detected high levels of the radioactive isotope cesium-137 in multiple shipments of shrimp and in a sample of cloves from certain regions of Indonesia. The FDA's lab confirmed contamination in food samples, the agency said.

The requirement applies to shrimp and spices from the island of Java and Lampung Province on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

Several grocery stores including Kroger and Walmart have recalled shrimp due to potential contamination with cesium-137. The primary health effect from cesium-137 exposure is an elevated risk of cancer.

Write to Katherine Hamilton at katherine.hamilton@wsj.com