U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is demanding answers over radioactive imported shrimp after federal regulators issued eight safety alerts tied to a single Indonesian processor in just three months, raising fresh questions about whether the seafood certification system is protecting American families.

Tuberville joined U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA.), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, in sending letters to three of the largest seafood certification organizations — the Global Seafood Alliance, the Marine Stewardship Council, and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council — pressing them to explain how their safety and certification programs work and whether they are actually catching bad actors.

The letters cite a troubling track record. Between August and October 2025, the FDA issued eight safety alerts on imported shrimp from a single Indonesian processor due to potential Cesium-137 contamination. Cesium-137 is a radioactive substance linked to serious health harms.

The letters also note that in the final year of the Biden administration, the FDA conducted approximately 1,000 foreign inspections out of 125,000 foreign food facilities subject to oversight — a staggering gap.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance, which represents Gulf Coast shrimp producers, praised the effort. “When certification labels fail to deliver on their safety promises, they must be held accountable,” said Director Blake Price. “We thank Chairman Cassidy and Senator Tuberville for asking important questions regarding the gap between the public food safety record and the claims of certification programs.”

The inquiry builds on a prior investigation Cassidy launched in November 2025 alongside U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA.) targeting major grocery chains over how they vet the safety of foreign shrimp. The three certification bodies have until June 10 to respond.

Sawyer Knowles is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].