Rumor :The white thread pulled out from a shrimp’s head is a parasite.
/✗:This is a wrong statement
The white thread pulled out from a shrimp’s head is the spermatophore of a male shrimp, not a parasite.
Moreover, the possibility of parasites in shrimp is relatively low because:
Parasites generally have an infection rate, meaning not all individuals will be infected. Therefore, not every shrimp will have parasites.
This white thread is very soft and breaks easily when pulled. This is not in line with common sense.
Enjoy shrimp with peace of mind! Remember these tips!
- Identify shrimp injected with industrial gelatin by squeezing their bellies
After the death of shrimp and other aquatic products, their abdominal cavities and bodies will become softer. If the belly is particularly swollen and feels hard when squeezed, be wary of industrial gelatin injection.
During cooking, you can cut along the abdominal cavity to observe whether there is any transparent gelatinous substance flowing out from the shrimp’s body, especially from the head connection.
Additionally, if you notice an unusual odor during cooking or the gelatin does not easily dissolve, it may indicate the presence of harmful industrial gelatin, and the product should not be consumed.
- It is normal for the heads of Arctic shrimp to appear black
Generally, when the heads of cooked shrimp turn black or even fall off, it may indicate freshness issues. However, this does not apply to wild Arctic shrimp, as it is normal for their heads to appear black.
When Arctic shrimp are caught using large trawlers that pull them up from the seabed in one go, the sudden change in atmospheric pressure may cause their stomachs to rupture. Since the stomach of Arctic shrimp is located in their heads and they have transparent shells, the black or brown plankton or algae they consume will spread out, making their heads appear black.
Furthermore, during the spawning season, female Arctic shrimp sometimes have mature shrimp roe in their ovaries, causing their heads to faintly appear dark green. These are possible reasons for the “black heads” of Arctic shrimp. Consuming this type of “black head” shrimp does not pose a harm to human health.
