Kennedy, Cassidy to grocery chains: Gulf shrimp is safer than foreign imports

WASHINGTON - Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) sent a letter to the United States' largest grocery stores advocating for the sale of shrimp from the Gulf of America rather than frequently-recalled foreign shrimp.

"In 2024, the United States imported approximately $213 billion in agriculture products. As a result of greater imports, Americans spent over $550 billion in food and beverage products that were imported or contained imported ingredients. Despite increased consumer spending on imported food, we have seen the potential safety risks from an overreliance on foreign manufacturers," the senators wrote.

"We have experienced a serious increase in food safety incidents as a result of imported food products . . . [The] FDA has issued eight safety alerts since August on imported shrimp from a single shrimp processor due to potential Cesium-137 contamination. Cesium-137 is a radioactive substance that can cause substantial health harms," they continued.

"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," the Louisiana senators emphasized.

Background:

• In December 2023, Kennedy introduced a bill to bolster the Seafood Import Monitoring Program's ability to audit foreign seafood imports that its producers misrepresent. Senate Democrats blocked Kennedy's bill.

• In May 2024, Kennedy questioned then-Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on safety risks associated with imported shrimp and crawfish, drawing attention to foreign countries that subsidize their seafood industries and engage in misleading advertising.

• In September 2025, Kennedy delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor urging better shrimp inspection in the wake of a recall of raw frozen shrimp associated with radioactive contamination imported from Indonesia.

Read the senators' full letters to the grocery chains below:

• Walmart

• Kroger

• Albertsons

Read more about Kennedy and Cassidy's letter in WDSU.