Kroger urgently recalls food sold in thousands of stores in 31 states

Food recalls are a regular occurrence in the U.S. grocery industry. Some are initiated voluntarily by companies discovering a potential problem before it escalates. 

If a safety concern is flagged, regulators like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) may also mandate recalls.

• Voluntary recalls: Most recalls fall into this category. Companies pull products proactively, often to limit liability, protect brand trust, and show regulators and consumers they are acting responsibly.
• Mandatory recalls: If regulators determine a product poses a serious health risk and the company refuses to issue a voluntary recall, regulators can step in and order one.

In either case, recalls can create major headaches for retailers and suppliers, ranging from lost sales to reputational damage.

The latest example comes from Kroger, which is now pulling shrimp products from its freezers nationwide due to potential radioactive contamination.

Recalled shrimp products and distribution at Kroger brands

The latest FDA recall, initiated by AquaStar Corp., affects approximately 85,000 bags of shrimp sold between June 12 and September 17, 2025, across 31 states, including Arizona, California, Ohio, Mississippi, Texas, Oregon, and Wisconsin, among many others.

The products listed on the recall notice include:

Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp, approximately 49,920 2-lb. bags:

• UPC 20011110643906, lot code 10662 5085 10, Best If Used By: 03 26 27
• UPC 20011110643906, lot code 10662 5097 11, Best If Used By: 04 07 27
• UPC 20011110643906, lot code 10662 5106 11, Best If Used By: 04 16 27
• UPC 20011110643906, lot code 10662 5107 10, Best If Used By: 04 17 27
• UPC 20011110643906, lot code 10662 5111 11, Best If Used By: 04 21 27
• UPC 20011110643906, lot code 10662 5112 10, Best If Used By: 04 22 27
• UPC 20011110643906, lot code 10662 5113 10, Best If Used By: 04 23 27
• UPC 20011110643906, lot code 10662 5113 11, Best If Used By: 04 23 27
• UPC 20011110643906, lot code 10662 5114 10, Best If Used By: 04 24 27
• UPC 20011110643906, lot code 10662 5114 11, Best If Used By: 04 24 27

Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp, approximately 18,000 2-lb. bags:

• UPC 011110626196, lot code 10662 5112 11, Best Before: 10 22 2027
• UPC 011110626196, lot code 10662 5113 10, Best Before: 10 23 2027

AquaStar Raw Peeled Tail-On Shrimp Skewers, approximately 17,264 1.25-lb. bags:

• UPC 731149390010, lot code 10662 5127 10, Best If Used By: 11 07 2027
• UPC 731149390010, lot code 10662 5128 11, Best If Used By: 11 08 2027
• UPC 731149390010, lot code 10662 5133 11, Best If Used By: 11 13 2027
• UPC 731149390010, lot code 10662 5135 10, Best If Used By: 11 15 2027

Consumers are urged to check packaging for these identifiers:

• UPC: 011110626196
• Lot Codes: 10662 5112, 10662 5113
• Best Before Dates: October 22 or 23, 2027

These products were sold at Kroger-owned stores: Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foodsco, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C, King Soopers, Kroger  (KR) , Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Supermarkets, Pick’ n Save, Ralphs, Smith’s and QFC.

FDA issues health advisory for recalled shrimp

The FDA linked the contamination to shrimp processed by Indonesian firm PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS), which is now facing an import alert to block further shipments into the U.S.

Consumers should not eat the affected shrimp products, the FDA says. While no illnesses have been reported yet, Cesium-137 exposure can pose serious health risks, including DNA damage and an increased risk of cancer.

Traces of Cesium-137 “are widespread and can be present in the environment at background levels, and at higher levels in water or foods grown, raised, or produced in areas with environmental contamination,” the FDA announcement read.

Consumer guidance on Kroger, AquaStar shrimp products

The recommendations for consumers who have purchased the affected shrimp are:

• Do not consume the recalled shrimp.

• Return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them safely.

Customers can contact AquaStar at 1-800-331-3440, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST, for more details.

The high cost of food recalls

Food recalls are among the most disruptive and costly events for any company. The average direct cost is estimated at $10 million, according to research published in the journal Food Policy on Science Direct. 

The steep price tag reflects expenses tied to logistics, destruction of recalled products, legal fees, and public relations efforts.

Related: Grocery brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after huge recall

On top of that, companies face additional risks:

• Lost sales: Consumers may choose different brands or stores. 
• Reputational damage: Negative publicity can erode customer trust, especially in the private-label segment.
• Regulatory fines: Ongoing FDA scrutiny can lead to penalties and stricter oversight.
• Supply chain disruptions: In the case of the Kroger recalled shrimp, pulling tens of thousands of bags from 31 states disrupts distribution and could affect supplier relationships.
• Operational distractions: Staff and resources must be diverted to crisis management instead of normal operations.

Industry implications of food recalls

“We are not seeing a rise in recalls but in the number of outbreaks detected,” University of Guelph Professor of Food Science Keith Warriner told Food Safety News in January 2025. 

There are an estimated 48 million cases of foodborne illness each year, yet only a fraction can be attributed to a specific source, not to mention the number caused by non-specified agents, Warriner said. This has been achieved by advances in enabling technologies such as DNA sequencing, artificial intelligence, and traceability.

Around 79% of seafood sold in the U.S. is imported, according to a report in the journal Marine Policy. The Kroger shrimp recall highlights the particular risks associated with imported foods. The FDA is now blocking shipments from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati. 

Related: Costco issues urgent recall on major Kirkland product

#Kroger #urgently #recalls #food #sold #thousands #stores #states