Walmart and Aldi Linked to Contaminated Shrimp Imported from India

Recent reports indicate that Walmart and Aldi have been connected to contaminated shrimp sourced from India. According to NBC News, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected just over 1% of shrimp imports in 2023 for traces of antibiotics, ultimately rejecting 51 shipments due to antibiotic contamination. This situation has come to light through an investigative report conducted in collaboration with The Outlaw Ocean Project, which highlights troubling practices at a shrimp factory in southern India that supplies products to these major retailers.

The report features insights from Joshua Farinella, the former manager of Choice Canning, who worked at the factory for four months before resigning. Farinella revealed several alarming practices, including the use of unsanitary “peeling sheds,” illegal antibiotics in shrimp, and mistreatment of workers. These revelations have caught the attention of Congress, leading ranking Democrats from the House Committee on Natural Resources to demand documentation related to Farinella’s claims.

In their letter, the committee members expressed concern over the prevalence of forced labor and human rights violations within the seafood supply chain. “As the single largest importer of seafood in the world, the U.S. holds tremendous market influence over the operations of global fisheries,” they stated. “The actions of U.S.-based importers and seafood companies disproportionately affect the health and safety of all seafood products and the likelihood that seafood is not produced with forced labor or through illegal, unregulated, or unreported fishing practices.”

Further addressing the issue, Representatives Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) and Garret Graves (R-La.) wrote to President Joe Biden, stating that foreign producers are exploiting government subsidies and shortcuts—such as using banned antibiotics and illegal fishing practices—to undercut domestic shrimp suppliers and inundate the American market with unsafe shrimp. They mentioned that Congress is considering legislative proposals like H.R. 4547, the Laws Ensuring Safe Shrimp (LESS) Act, which would allocate additional resources to the FDA to guarantee that imported shrimp is safe for consumption and not obtained through illegal practices.

In response to the allegations, Walmart stated, “We prohibit unsafe working conditions or forced labor of any form, and as outlined by our Antibiotics in Farm Animals Position, we limit our supplier’s use of antibiotics in the food we source, including fresh and frozen seafood.” They emphasized their commitment to supplier accountability in maintaining safe workplaces and adhering to FDA regulatory requirements and Walmart food safety standards.

Additionally, a report released by the Corporate Accountability Lab, an advocacy group based in Chicago, corroborated Farinella’s allegations about worker mistreatment. The report, which included interviews with over 150 individuals involved in India’s shrimping sector, confirmed the existence of forced labor and abusive working conditions, highlighting practices such as debt bondage, which compels workers to remain until their loans are repaid.

In a statement to Supermarket News, an Aldi spokesperson affirmed, “The Aldi South Group prioritizes and values human and environmental rights throughout all of our operations. We take all supplier activities seriously and will devote all relevant time and resources to inspect this topic in accordance with our compliance process.”

The FDA’s limited inspection scope contrasts sharply with practices in the European Union, which tests 50% of shrimp imports from India for antibiotic residues, raising concerns about the adequacy of U.S. regulations in ensuring food safety.