Grocery stores criticized by Louisiana senators for selling possibly tainted shrimp

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Louisiana Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) are worried about the safety of imported shrimp sold in major grocery stores nationwide.

The senators sent letters this week to the CEOs of Walmart, Kroger,

and Albertsons, saying the stores continue to sell imported shrimp that could contain Cesium-137, a radioactive substance linked to cancer and other health problems.

“Ensuring that American families have access to safe, quality food is essential for us to advance President Trump’s agenda to Make America Healthy Again,” the senators wrote.

Cassidy and Kennedy said their concerns come after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued eight safety alerts since August about imported shrimp from Indonesia that may be contaminated.

“Despite these numerous concerns, you continue to sell imported shrimp at your stores, rather than support domestic fisheries that offer a safer product while supporting small American businesses,” they said.

They also mentioned a Government Accountability Office report, which found that the FDA inspected less than one percent of foreign food facilities in 2024.

The senators asked the grocery chains to respond by Nov. 20 with details about:

• Any shrimp recalls in the past year.
• How they check the safety of imported seafood.
• Whether they use third-party safety testers.
• And if they prioritize buying shrimp from U.S. fisheries.

Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, plans to work with the Trump administration to improve food safety and support American seafood producers.

The senators said Americans should pick shrimp from states like Louisiana, believing it’s safer and supports local businesses.

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