How Safe is Your Shrimp?

Last night you went to a party and it was catered. You were delighted because there was a bountiful amount of shrimp cocktail available for the taking. You couldn't help yourself. You ate a LOT of shrimp. YUMMEE! Perhaps you should have asked yourself a question while partaking in your hopefully not noticed gluttony. Where did this shrimp come from?

There are hundreds of different types of shrimp species and almost as many sizes, from just plain puny to really extra giant. Were the shrimp you were consuming pretty uniform in color and size? Chances are it was imported and farm raised. At least 80% of shrimp in the United States (I have read reports as high as 90%) are imported. This is one factor worth considering but accompanied with the words "farm raised" it should raise your eyebrows in questioning doubt. What does imported farm raised really mean? It means that those shrimp you ate like they were going out of style probably came from Asia. Producers of these little delicacies include, but are not limited to, China, Viet Nam, Thailand, and different locations in the Gulf of Mexico not within U.S. borders. It also means you should have some serious considerations to the nature of their habitat.

According to John Williams, Executive Director Of Southern Shrimp Alliance, (testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, "Hearing on Chinese Seafood: Safety and Trade Issues" April 25. 2008), "People who eat wild-caught American shrimp can be assured that their shrimp meets the standards for U.S. quality and safety. The same cannot be said for imported shrimp. Farm-raised in crowded and dirty ponds, with almost no quality control, imported Chinese shrimp develop in poor sanitary conditions, in ponds with high feces concentrations, banned antibiotics, and toxic chemicals."

Well that just sounds disgusting. The source I quoted is gung-ho for Amercian shrimping, which has no doubt taken a big hit in the last few years. Importation of shrimp has hit U.S. shrimpers right in the gut where it counts, imported shrimps are cheaper. I'll agree with that, you sure don't have a problem getting a fair amount pretty cheap here in N.H. The major grocery stores are always running specials, this is not an out of reach food due to pricing any longer, nor has it been for quite some time.

All fresh fish and shellfish sold in grocery stores is now required by law to have an indicator of where the country of origin is. At our local grocery store I only purchase fish that is labeled U.S. or Canadian wild caught. It should be noted that prepackaged and breaded type fish products do not have to be labeled. Dining out? It's not a bad idea to ask your server where the fish came from. Who knows where those frozen fish sticks and coconut shrimp actually were caught? It only makes sense they would be from the cheaper source, usually not the U.S.

Granted the ocean is not 100% pure and unpolluted but it sure beats farm raised, I would be willing to bet the toxin ratio is much lower where U.S. and Canadian shellfish and fish are native inhabitants. There are the elements of red tide and over fishing in the equation but all in all I think wild caught is a much safer and tastier method of purchasing.

According to the food and drug administration, China is the largest (www.fda.gov) exporter of shrimp and of farmed fish. It can fairly stated that this is a cautionary statement in itself for a consumer. They have had many recalls for unsafe and unsanitary products in the last year.

If you enjoy your shrimp support your local fisherman! Current trends are against outsourcing and pro for food safety awareness. Be a local buyer if along the coast, if you are located in the interior of the U.S. read your labels. No matter where you live, have knowledge of where your appetizers and or dinner resided. Be consumer savy for your health and the U.S. shrimpers would undoubtedly appreciate it as well.