Is Costco Farm-Raised Shrimp Really Safe to Eat?

Shrimp is one of the most popular seafood items that shoppers look for at Costco. The warehouse club sells large bags of frozen shrimp at prices that seem almost too good to be true. But savvy shoppers know that with seafood if the price seems too low you need to be wary of where it comes from and how it was raised. This is especially true for something like shrimp, which carries some health and environmental concerns when farm-raised.

So should you trust Costco’s super cheap shrimp? Is that farm-raised shrimp from Costco safe to eat? Let’s dive in and look at the pros and cons.

How Is Most Shrimp Farm-Raised?

Over 90% of shrimp sold in the U.S. is imported from overseas shrimp farms. Thailand is the number one source of imported shrimp, followed by India, Indonesia, Ecuador, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Mexico.

Shrimp farms are located along the coasts and consist of large, shallow ponds built right on top of mangrove forests or wetlands. Small shrimp larvae are added to the ponds and feed on plankton and commercial feed pellets that contain fishmeal, soybean meal, and other binders. As the shrimp grow, they are given antibiotics, anti-fungal medications, and pesticides to prevent disease outbreaks in the crowded ponds.

After about 3-6 months, the shrimp reach market size of about 41-50 shrimp per pound and are harvested from the ponds. They are peeled, deveined, and frozen into those big bags you see at Costco.

Why Is Farm-Raised Shrimp Controversial?

While farm-raised shrimp provides cheaper shrimp for consumers, it comes with some big controversies:

• Health risks: Shrimp ponds are breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses, and parasites due to the high concentrations of shrimp waste. Heavy use of antibiotics and anti-fungal/pest chemicals can lead to antibiotic-resistant superbugs and potential chemical residues in the shrimp.

• Environmental damage: Shrimp farms are often built by clear-cutting fragile mangrove forests and coastal wetlands, destroying habitats and disrupting local ecosystems. Waste and chemical runoff from the ponds pollute coastal waters. It can take up to 100 years for destroyed mangroves to regrow.

• Unsafe labor practices: Some shrimp farms exploit low-wage migrant labor and even child labor. Workers may be exposed to harmful chemicals without proper protection.

• Food safety violations: Shrimp farms, especially in parts of Asia and Latin America, have been found violating food safety protocols for things like drug use and sanitation. Shipments of contaminated shrimp have made it to the U.S. market.

So while farm-raised shrimp from these controversial operations allows for super cheap shrimp prices, there are definite risks involved. But what about Costco’s shrimp specifically?

Is Costco Farm-Raised Shrimp Safe? What We Know:

Costco is famously tight-lipped about their suppliers and the origins of their Kirkland brand products. But here’s what we know about their farm-raised shrimp:

• The countries mentioned on the frozen shrimp packages indicate they source from major shrimp farming regions like Thailand, Indonesia, India, Vietnam.

• Reviews mention bags are labeled as “farm-raised” and don’t indicate any organic certification.

• Costco states their seafood suppliers must follow their Supplier Code of Conduct. This prohibits abusive labor practices and sets requirements for food safety procedures.

• However, they likely do not directly oversee all foreign shrimp farm operations nor can they guarantee everything those suppliers are doing.

So while Costco claims to hold their suppliers to certain ethical standards, it is impossible to fully regulate complex global supply chains. Problems at shrimp farms undoubtedly occur without their knowledge.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Costco Farm-Raised Shrimp

Given the issues around foreign shrimp farms, is it still worth buying the cheaper Costco shrimp? Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

• Costco shrimp is much cheaper than U.S.-raised or wild-caught varieties. For families on a budget, this can expand access to an affordable protein.

• Reviews of the taste are generally positive – shoppers find it tasty, especially for the low price.

• Costco’s code of conduct brings more oversight than a standard grocery store brand may have over supply chains.

Cons:

• It is impossible to fully trace shrimp back to ponds to ensure no human rights or environmental abuses occurred in production.

• Potential food safety issues from use of drugs/chemicals on shrimp farms.

• Concerning links between shrimp farm runoff pollution and coastal ecosystem destruction.

• Health impacts of antibiotics overuse creating risky superbugs.

How to Buy More Responsible Farm-Raised Shrimp

Given the controversies around some shrimp farms, I can’t fully endorse buying the cheapest frozen shrimp without thinking about the impacts. However, here are some tips to find better quality, more responsibly-raised shrimp, even on a budget:

• Look for the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) logo – this independent certification ensures the farm meets standards for environmental performance, social responsibility, food safety, and traceability.

• Choose indoor, above-ground closed tank farms – these systems allow for greater control over health/safety and prevent pollution issues of outdoor open ponds.

• Opt for U.S. farmed shrimp – domestic shrimp farms must follow stricter regulations so less risk of contamination, antibiotics overuse, and labor issues.

• Try organic – certified organic shrimp cannot use antibiotics, pesticides, or GMOs, though can be pricier.

• Consider wild-caught – no risk of farming issues, but populations must be well-managed to prevent overfishing.

• Eat shrimp in moderation – less demand can reduce pressure on shrimp farms to maximize production at expense of sustainability.

The Bottom Line

Costco’s super cheap farm-raised shrimp makes it tempting for shoppers on a budget. But the truth is buying shrimp sourced from Asian or Latin American shrimp farms does carry risks due to lax health regulations, antibiotics overuse, environmental damages, and even unethical labor practices in some cases.

While Costco claims to hold suppliers to a code of conduct, they cannot fully oversee complex global supply chains. If you want to feel fully comfortable with your shrimp purchase, go for well-managed U.S. or BAP-certified farms. But know these will cost a bit more than the cheapest frozen shrimp at Costco. For me, I think it is worth a few extra dollars per pound to buy shrimp I know is safer and more sustainable.