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.
Take a close look at that platter of juicy shrimp cocktail or garlicky sautéed shrimp scampi. Do you notice a thin black line running along the back of those tasty crustaceans? That’s actually the shrimp’s digestive tract – in other words, its poop!
It may seem gross but a little shrimp poop won’t hurt you. Here’s a detailed look at what that black stuff really is, whether it’s safe to eat and if you need to remove it at all.
What is That Black Line in Shrimp?
The black streak along the back of shrimp is part of its digestive system, which supports the nutrient absorption process. This dark matter is made up of
- Stomach
- Intestines
- Waste matter
Shrimp are bottom feeders that consume plankton worms, and organic debris like sand and algae. The black line is a combination of all that undigested food passing through its digestive tract.
So in short – yes, that black stuff in shrimp is essentially its poop!
Is Eating Shrimp Poop Dangerous?
It’s understandable to be grossed out at the thought of consuming shrimp feces. But despite the ick factor, eating fully cooked shrimp poop is not actually dangerous.
According to food safety experts, the shrimp digestive tract doesn’t pose a health risk if the shellfish is thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F.
At this temperature, any potentially harmful bacteria like E. coli or Salmonella are killed off. Well-cooked shrimp takes on a firm, opaque appearance when done.
So while raw or undercooked shrimp can make you sick, shrimp prepared properly will destroy any dangerous pathogens in the poop tract before they can infect your digestive system.
The main safety concern with shrimp poop is the potential grittiness from sand or debris. Thorough cooking helps minimize texture issues. But for best flavor and mouthfeel, it’s still wise to remove the vein.
Do You Need to Devein Shrimp?
Deveining shrimp refers to removing the black digestive tract running along its back. This optional step makes the shrimp taste better by getting rid of any gritty bite.
To devein shrimp:
- Use kitchen shears or paring knife to cut a shallow slit along the back.
- Use the tip of shears or knife to lift out the tract.
- Rinse under cool water to remove any residue.
It’s easiest to remove the vein when raw. Once cooked, the tract fuses to the flesh so removing it can destroy the surrounding meat.
How to Tell if Shrimp Has Gone Bad
While shrimp poop itself isn’t inherently dangerous, spoiled shrimp in general can make you very sick. Watch for these signs of bad shrimp:
- Rotten, ammonia-like smell
- Slimy texture
- Discolored flesh
Discard any shrimp with an off odor or appearance. Only consume shrimp that looks and smells fresh.
Safe Handling Tips for Raw Shrimp
To prevent foodborne illness when prepping raw shrimp:
- Wash hands before and after handling.
- Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw shrimp sealed until ready to cook.
- Thoroughly clean any surfaces touched by raw shrimp.
- Cook to 145°F until opaque and firm.
Following basic food safety practices helps reduce the risks when consuming shrimp poop or any other part of the shellfish.
Is the Black Stuff Coming Out When Cooked?
You may notice some dark matter leaking out of shrimp as it cooks. This is the contents of the digestive tract seeping out from the heat.
While not very appetizing, it’s not harmful if the shrimp reaches a safe internal temp. Just discard any liquid and residue left behind after cooking.
Shrimp Poop – Gross But Harmless
At the end of the day, shrimp poop is not something to really worry about. While the idea may turn your stomach at first glance, properly handled and cooked shrimp is perfectly safe to eat vein and all.
To enjoy shrimp without the ick factor, simply snip and discard the vein prior to cooking. Then cook thoroughly until firm and opaque to eliminate any risks.
With the right preparation, that black shrimp poop can be tasted guilt-free!
Frequency of Entities:
shrimp: 33
poop: 15
black: 11
cook: 6
vein: 6
devein: 4
remove: 3
digestive: 3
harmful: 2
dangerous: 2
tract: 2
prepare: 2
properly: 2
cooked: 2
consume: 2
handling: 2
platter: 1
cocktail: 1
scampi: 1
crustaceans: 1
nutrient: 1
absorption: 1
debris: 1
feces: 1
pathogens: 1
illness: 1
mouthfeel: 1
residue: 1
discard: 1
seeping: 1
appetizing: 1
guilt-free: 1
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.
Is the vein in shrimp poop?
Why are there black lines in shrimp poop?
There are black lines in shrimps commonly referred to as the veins. The simple truth is that these lines are, in fact, not veins but digestive tracts containing shrimp poop. Shrimp poop is often removed from the crustacean in a process called deveining. This deveining happens because many believe consuming the veins is harmful or dirty.
How to remove shrimp poop?
Removing shrimp poop is a simple process that requires simple kitchen tools. All you need are steady hands and a sharp knife. The digestive tract (often called the black veins) is clear to see on the back line of the shrimp. It is a straight black line. One can cut through the back with a sharp knife and remove this black line.
Why is shrimp poop white?
The shrimp’s blood vessel consisting of arteries lies on the inside of the shrimp and is a white line, not black. The line is white because shrimps have clear blood and are not red like most animals. So, the process of deveining does not remove the veins, but it eliminates the poop. What other interesting facts about shrimp poop are noteworthy?
How do you identify shrimp poop?
However, identifying shrimp poop is relatively easy. There are black lines in shrimps commonly referred to as the veins. The simple truth is that these lines are, in fact, not veins but digestive tracts containing shrimp poop. Shrimp poop is often removed from the crustacean in a process called deveining.