Authorities raise concerns as over 20 factories receive delivery of hazardous containers: 'Without America's detection, we would have been unaware'

Even with a month still left in 2025, the year has already generated numerous unusual headlines that are easily forgotten. One notable case occurred on August 18, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an urgent alert about shrimp possibly contaminated with cesium-137. Bloomberg later revisited this episode, uncovering more uncertainties than answers.

The radioactive issue was first identified by port inspectors in Los Angeles. Containers carrying various goods, including shrimp and sneakers, were found to be releasing faint traces of artificial radiation. Similarly, a single shipment of Adidas sneakers bound for Switzerland triggered radar alarms in Rotterdam, showing similar radiation traces.

In the United States, the news became the subject of viral post-recall memes. While public attention quickly moved on, investigators continued to trace the origin of the contamination. Their findings revealed a developing public health and environmental crisis, with a complex chain of potentially dangerous contamination and only unclear leads regarding its source and containment.

Authorities traced the cesium-137 release to a small scrap-metal smelting facility in an industrial area near Jakarta, Indonesia. Bloomberg reported that it remains uncertain whether the release was accidental or deliberate. The surrounding region contained at least 20 manufacturers, including Nike and Adidas sneaker plants and seafood exporters.

Global authorities increased inspection measures after a shipment of contaminated Indonesian cloves reached the Port of Long Beach, California. Investigators then examined farmland in southern Sumatra, nearly 50 miles from the industrial site, discovering cesium-137 levels even higher than those detected in the shrimp, particularly within the soil.

Bloomberg noted that although no direct connection has been established between these events and a separate interception of radioactive zinc, the rapid detection of man-made cesium-137 in multiple locations is highly unusual. Indonesian lawmaker Evita Nursanty commented, "This case has tarnished our country's reputation internationally. If America hadn't detected it, we wouldn't have known."

The cesium-137 incident has far-reaching implications for global supply chains, food safety, waste management, and e-waste hazards. While contamination of this magnitude is rare, Bloomberg referenced a 1998 case in Spain, highlighting the broader problem of "orphan sources"radioactive materials that are lost, abandoned, or improperly discarded.

During the Acerinox incident in Spain, an orphan source was inadvertently melted, triggering radiation alarms across France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, illustrating how a small mistake can have international consequences. In Indonesia, officials are still struggling to manage over 1,000 tons of contaminated material. Nursanty questioned who would bear the cost of decontamination during a parliamentary session, referencing the $26 million spent on the 1998 incident (equivalent to $52.2 million today).

Author: Sophia Brooks