Shrimp is a popular food in B.C. But a lot of the shrimp for sale in grocery stores is imported, and that can come with risks.

The majority of the shrimp supply in stores comes from China and Southeast Asia and a lot of it is farmed. Consumer Reports recently tested bags of frozen shrimp and found some with potentially harmful bacteria and illegal antibiotic residues.

“Farming can be done responsibly, but when it’s not, bacteria and disease can thrive. Antibiotics may seem like a fix, but we don’t think so, and they’re illegal for use in imported shrimp,” said Dr. Urvashi Rangan of Consumer Reports. 

Consumer Reports tested 342 packages of shrimp, both farmed and wild,and raw and cooked.  The shrimp was purchased in large chain supermarkets, big-box stores and “natural” food stores in 27 cities across the United States. 

Overall, 60 per cent of the raw shrimp samples tested positive for bacteria, so safe preparation is very important. And 11 samples, or about five per cent of imported, raw, farmed shrimp, had antibiotic residues. 

“The antibiotic use is particularly troubling because it’s illegal, it promotes antibiotic resistance, and it just isn’t a responsible way of farming,” said Dr. Rangan.

Consumer Reports recommends buying responsibly sourced wild shrimp, like those recommended by SeaChoice or Seafood Watch.

If farmed shrimp are better for your budget, Consumer Reports says look for farmed shrimp certified by Naturland or Whole Foods Market Responsibly Farmed.

Click here for tips on how to handle and prepare shrimp safely.