IT has long been held in urban legend that eating imported shrimp is bad for you, and the claim has been widely reported in the media for years, but now Scottish scientists have proven that the legend is a myth.
Researchers at Stirling University have challenged the concerns around the consumption of imported farmed shrimp with new research indicating that it is as safe as any other seafood product.
Experts observed the findings after using European Union data to perform a risk assessment on shrimp imports, which, according to the university, “have a reputation among some consumer groups as being of low quality”.
Professor Dave Little and Dr Richard Newton, of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture, working with colleagues at Shanghai Ocean University, also found that shrimp imports have become much safer to consume in recent years.
Dr Newton said: “Farmed shrimp imported to the EU has a reputation among some consumer groups as being of low quality and this is sometimes reflected in the mainstream press, as well as on the internet.
“This has included claims that tropical farmed shrimp are grown in polluted water and treated with large quantities of chemicals, which can be harmful to human health.
The team found that information on the internet has continued the negative narrative, which is based on practices mostly phased out and does not reflect industry improvements.
Dr Newton added: “This means that imported farmed shrimp are no less safe than any other seafood product.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here