Case Overview: A class action alleges Walmart sold Great Value frozen shrimp tainted with radioactive Cesium-137 and failed to warn or adequately recall the product.
Consumers Affected: Shoppers who purchased Great Value frozen shrimp from Walmart stores in affected states.
Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Shoppers who stocked their freezers with Great Value frozen shrimp from Walmart say they unknowingly brought home a product laced with a radioactive substance.
A newly filed lawsuit accuses the retail giant and its seafood suppliers of selling contaminated shrimp while failing to warn consumers about potential health risks. The case, filed in California federal court, centers on shrimp allegedly tainted with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope produced by nuclear fission.
Plaintiff Derrick Young says he purchased the seafood believing it was safe for his household, only to later learn that testing tied to a nationwide recall found traces of radioactive material in the product.
According to the complaint, the shrimp was processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian supplier. That same supplier was cited in an August recall announced by Beaver Street Fisheries LLC and Southwind Foods LLC, two companies responsible for distributing Walmart’s Great Value frozen shrimp across the United States.
Stores in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia were among those affected.
The lawsuit says Walmart kept selling the seafood without disclosing contamination risks, leaving customers unaware of what they were eating. Young argues that consumers rely on brands like Walmart to sell products that are safe, tested, and accurately labeled.
“Consumers trust manufacturers and retailers to sell products that are free from known harmful substances, including Cesium-137,” the filing states.
While the shrimp recall did occur, Young contends it was too quiet to reach most households. The lawsuit describes it as a recall “designed to ensure that most consumers would be unable to receive relief.”
Many customers, the filing claims, never received notice or reimbursement.
Cesium-137 can remain in the environment for decades and is known to cause cellular damage, the lawsuit adds. Even at low levels, exposure can elevate cancer risks by interfering with DNA repair mechanisms.
The lawsuit says Walmart and its seafood suppliers misled customers by marketing the shrimp as safe when testing later revealed contamination. Young argues the companies should have warned shoppers or pulled the product sooner instead of continuing sales.
He also says the recall that followed was poorly communicated and left many customers unaware that they may have purchased contaminated food.
According to the filing, the recall was structured in a way that made it difficult for most buyers to get refunds or replacement products. The case accuses the companies of breaking consumer protection laws by failing to disclose safety risks, profiting from an unsafe product, and advertising it in a way that gave buyers a false sense of security.
It also alleges the shrimp was not fit for sale under basic quality and safety standards required by law.
This is not the first time Walmart has faced lawsuits involving its Great Value and Parent’s Choice product lines.
Last year, the company was accused of falsely marketing Parent’s Choice Yogurt Bites as preservative-free even though they contained ascorbic acid, a chemical additive.
In the Walmart Great Value frozen shrimp class action lawsuit, Young is seeking refunds for customers nationwide, repayment of profits, and a court order requiring Walmart and its suppliers to improve labeling and recall procedures.
Case Details
Plaintiffs' Attorney:
Did you buy Great Value frozen shrimp recently? How should retailers handle food safety recalls? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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