Your shrimp arrives at the table. You’re salivating, ready to dive in. But then your gaze narrows in on the thin black line along the backs of each shellfish. As you’re about to rip into some prawns, the thought of “is that…shrimp poop?” and, perhaps more importantly, “is it okay for you to eat it?” passes you by.
The thought of eating poopy seafood makes me sick, but I didn’t want to give up shrimp just yet. I wanted to talk to food safety experts to find out what was really going on. Is that dark line really what it looks like? If so, should you be worried about eating it? Read on to find out what experts say.
As a seafood lover, I’m always excited to dive into a plate of juicy, succulent shrimp. But inevitably, my enthusiasm dampens a bit when I notice that thin black line running along the back. Is that.shrimp poop? My curiosity finally got the better of me, so I did some digging into what that black stripe really is, and most importantly – is it safe to eat?
Here’s a plain-language look into that shrimpy mystery including insight from food scientists. Read on to get the scoop on shrimp poop!
What is That Black Line in Shrimp?
Let’s start by identifying what that infamous black mark actually is Turns out, it goes by a few names
- The dorsal tract
- Back vein
- Sand vein
But they all refer to the same thing – the shrimp’s digestive system, made up of its stomach, midgut and intestines.
So in simple terms, yes – that black stripe is essentially the shellfish’s poop chute. Shrimp are bottom-feeders, feasting on plankton, worms, and other organic material down on the ocean floor. That dark color comes from all that muddy cuisine working its way through the digestive tract.
At this point, you may be pushing your garlic shrimp away. But hold on! Before you swear off shellfish, let’s get into whether eating that shrimp dookie will actually make you sick.
Can Eating a Shrimp’s Poop Make You Sick?
Here’s the good news – according to food safety experts, shrimp poop itself doesn’t pose a health risk, assuming you prepare the shrimp properly. That means cooking it to an internal temperature of 145°F to kill off any potentially harmful bacteria.
Raw or undercooked shrimp does bring a risk of illness, just like raw chicken or beef. Pathogens like E.coli can be present in the flesh itself. But cooking shrimp thoroughly destroys those bugs before they reach your stomach.
As long as the shrimp meat is cooked through, the shrimp’s own fecal matter doesn’t contain anything that can make you ill. So you can dig in without worry as long as your shrimp is fried, steamed, sautéed or grilled to a safe temperature.
The black line might look a little off-putting, but it’s not going to ruin your appetite or give you a case of the runs. Whew!
Do You Really Need to De-Vein Shrimp?
If shrimp poop isn’t a health hazard, do you actually need to bother removing that black streak at all?
It comes down to personal preference. Leaving the vein intact might result in a few gritty, sandy bites according to experts. Deveining provides a smoother, better tasting shrimp experience.
Luckily, removing the vein is easy enough to do at home with a pair of kitchen shears. Here’s the simple process:
- Cut a shallow slit along the back of raw, uncooked shrimp.
- Use the tip of shears to lift out the black digestive tract.
- Rinse thoroughly.
It’s best to remove the vein prior to cooking when the shrimp is still raw and pliable. Trying to dig out the cooked tract will just destroy the delicate shrimp meat.
Personally, I find that little black line unappetizing, so I always ask waitstaff how shrimp is served when dining out. If the poop chute is left in, I’ll modify my order!
The Verdict on Shrimp Poop
To recap, that solid black stripe in your shrimp is in fact its digestive tract, containing its stomach contents and waste. But as long as you cook your shrimp properly, eating a bit of dookie won’t harm you.
Undercooked shrimp does bring the risk of bacteria, parasites or viruses though. So always ensure shrimp is cooked to the recommended safe temperature.
What’s that black line in shrimp?
The dark line running through the backs of shrimp goes by many names—the dorsal tract, back vein, or sand vein, Tori Stivers, MS, a seafood specialist at the University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, tells SELF. The marking is made up of the shellfish’s stomach, midgut, and intestine. Those structures support the crustacean’s digestive process, so yes, that black stuff is the shrimp’s waste, she says.
As for what you’re actually seeing there? Shrimp are called bottom feeders for a reason: They munch on foods found in the muddy depths of the ocean, like plankton, worms, microscopic animals, and various types of organic debris like sand. So that black line is likely a combination of all those things in various stages of digestion, Dave Love, PhD, a senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, tells SELF.
Can eating shrimp’s poop make you sick?
Having established that the dark line is the shrimp’s intestines (okay, its poop), should you be afraid to eat it? It might look gross, but most people agree that it’s safe to eat as long as you cook it properly.
“Eating the shrimp’s digestive tract doesn’t make you sick—as long as you cook it thoroughly,” says Dr. Love. That means steaming, baking, frying, or whichever way you’re craving it, until it reaches 145°F. At this internal temperature, the shrimp will take on a firm texture.
That’s not to say you can’t get sick from eating shrimp in general. You can, but Dr. Paul says that eating shellfish raw or not cooked enough is usually what makes people sick. Love. For instance, just like ground beef, raw shrimp can contain bacteria like E. coli. But if you cook it all the way through, the heat will kill the bacteria and any other pathogens that could be harmful before they can mess up your digestive tract. So if you want to eat shrimp with the vein still in it, you might want to avoid raw shrimp sashimi and instead try them in a curry, stir-fry, garlicky pasta, or zesty taco.
[ FASTEST SAFEST ] DEVEIN shrimp REMOVING SHRIMP POOP – DEVEIN
Can you eat shrimp poop?
You can get rid of this by a process called deveining, but it isn’t necessary in order to enjoy eating the shrimp, as it is simply a cosmetic issue. Many people are concerned that they are eating the poop of the animal, because that’s what it looks like, and it’s not an appetizing thought.
Do shrimps have poop in them?
The top line on the back of the shrimp is an intestine or abdominal artery.It does contain the “poop” or waste of the shrimp. This, I believe, should be removed before eating.On the underside there is a bluer,thinner line which is the blood line of the shrimp. Some people remove it and some just eat it along with the shrimp.
Do shrimp eat fishes poop?
While shrimps don’t eat fish poop, they eat and can clean up your tank. They clean after dead insects, plants, algae, or food leftovers in the fish tank or pond. For that reason, they’re known as cleanup crews. Dead aquatic animals. Having dead fish in a pond or aquarium is inevitable.
Is it okay to eat shrimp poop?
it depends its mostly just plants and plankton yum yum but as long as you know the shrimp were clean and never tainted during their lifetime then your safe its actually fun eating poop sometimes good laughs