Overview

• The FDA placed PT Natural Java Spice on an import block after cesium‑137 was detected in a shipment of cloves bound for California.
• CBP previously flagged cesium‑137 in Indonesian shrimp containers at multiple U.S. ports, and the FDA confirmed the isotope in a breaded shrimp sample.
• Companies have withdrawn millions of pounds of shrimp and about 440,000 pounds of cloves this year, including retailer removals that covered products sold under brands such as Kroger.
• Regulators say detected levels are below thresholds that typically require protective action, yet they advise consumers to avoid recalled shrimp and to check lot numbers for affected products.
• Federal agencies are examining whether the spice and shrimp cases share a source, noting Indonesian plants are roughly 500 miles apart and potential vectors include contaminated scrap metal, recycled medical equipment, or shared shipping containers.