HWN Suggests

America’s Farmed Shrimp Habit Is Fueling Antibiotic Resistance

Aquaculture’s widespread antibiotic use also has a massive downside — antibiotic resistance is on the rise, and already a global threat. This antimicrobial resistance, as the World Health Organization explains, “occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines.” This makes infections harder to treat, according the global health agency, which in turn increases risk of “disease spread, severe illness and death.” As a result, the agency has declared AMR “one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.”

read full article

Featured

 Is Shrimp Good for You? It’s Complicated.

Americans love their prawns. So how healthy are they — for us and for the planet?

 Prawns and Shrimp

Prawns have evolved over hundreds of millions of years and there are now more than 2,000 species.4 They vary so much that it’s impossible to detail how all their natural lives differ, but we can give you a sense of how these fascinating animals live when free of human interference.

 The Hidden Cost of Eating Shrimp

Shrimp dishes have become a staple food in many households and restaurants around the world, leading to an explosion in shrimp production of over 600% in the past 50 years. But this growth comes at a cost.

 What you need to know about wild and farmed shrimp

Over 90 percent of the shrimp eaten in the United States is imported, and the problems start with the complicated global supply chain. “It’s very difficult to know where your shrimp is coming from,” said Ryan Bigelow, a senior project manager for Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch initiative. Most of it comes from Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, India, Thailand and Vietnam, Bigelow explained, where environmentally destructive practices are common.

Articles of Interest

Does Shrimp Raise Cholesterol? What Science Really Says About Shrimp and Heart Health

Despite being low in saturated fat and packed with nutrients, shrimp has long had a bad reputation in the cholesterol conversation. But recent science tells a very different story—one that might surprise you. The concern about shrimp and cholesterol isn't new. For decades, we've been told that eating foods high in dietary cholesterol could raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. That message stuck. Shrimp, unfortunately, became one of the poster foods for this concern. A standard 3-ounce serving of shrimp contains around 180 milligrams of cholesterol, which is more than half of the old recommended daily limit of 300 milligrams. As a result, many people assumed that shrimp was just as risky for heart health as high-cholesterol foods like bacon, sausage, and egg yolks. Some health professionals even recommended cutting it out entirely if you had high cholesterol. But here’s the thing: newer research shows that this blanket advice might have been too simplistic.

More Responsibly Farmed Shrimp Could be Coming Soon to U.S. Consumers

Shrimp is the most widely consumed seafood in the U.S. Yet for American consumers, responsibly produced shrimp is difficult to find.

A Sustainable Shrimp’s Tale

Shrimp is the most popular American seafood. But have you ever given any thought as to how shrimp is farmed or caught? Not all shrimp are the same. Do you want to know what kind of shrimp to eat and where it came from?

Does Shrimp Raise Cholesterol?

Cholesterol in eggs is slightly lower compared to shellfish like shrimp and squid. These two anomalies have about two to three times more than other animals. Nonetheless, research reveals they have a negligible effect on blood markers.

Heavy metals in wild and cultured shrimp, supplied feeds, and their habitats: Assessing public health risk

The contamination and risk assessment of heavy metals (HMs) in highly priced tiger shrimp and its associated ecosystems and farming conditions (hatcheries and commercial grow-out ponds) were scarcely investigated in South Asian countries.

How mantis shrimp protect their powerful ‘fists’ of fury

Their dactyl clubs can break aquarium glass.

How safe is your shrimp?

Each of us eats, on average, almost 4 pounds per year, making shrimp more popular than tuna. Once considered a special-occasion treat, shrimp has become so ubiquitous that we now expect to find it on the menu whether we're at a pricey restaurant or a fast-food joint.

Is Shrimp Good for You? An RD Shares the Top Health Benefits of Shrimp

Starring in favorites from garlicky scampi to summer seafood boils, shrimp is an extremely popular shellfish choice—but is shrimp good for you? Shrimp is popular because of its tasty flavor, quick cooking time, and impressive nutrients. There’s no shortage of things to love about shrimp’s hearty health benefits, either. That's why we caught up with an expert to learn more about the health benefits of shrimp.

Is Shrimp Healthy? Here's What a Dietitian Says

Shrimp is a delicious treat from the sea—but is it healthy? The answer might surprise you.

Is Shrimp Safe to Eat?

Fried shrimp. Cocktail shrimp. Shrimp scampi. Shrimp fried rice. Sauteed shrimp. You get the point. Shrimp is America’s favorite seafood, regardless of how it’s prepared. In the United States, each American eats roughly four pounds of shrimp annually! But is it safe?

Mantis Shrimp's Incredible Eyesight Yields Clues For Detecting Cancer

Mantis shrimp, a group of aggressive, reef-dwelling crustaceans, take more than one first-place ribbon in the animal kingdom. Outwardly, they resemble their somewhat larger lobster cousins, but their colorful shells contain an impressive set of superpowers. Now, scientists are finding that one of those abilities — incredible eyesight — has implications for people with cancer that are potentially lifesaving.

Secret Code Prevents Cleaner Shrimp From Becoming a Meal

Reef shrimp and their fish clients use special signals that communicate cooperation, a new study says.

Shellfish allergies: can they be treated?

Seafood platters? Bouillabaisse? Arroz de Marisco? Seafood paella? Oysters Rockefeller? Lobster Thermidor? Dining out with friends, a romantic meal, celebrating Christmas or a holiday on a wind-swept coast with these seafood dishes on your table are enjoyable moments. But have any of you, your friends or family experienced swelling of lips or eyelids, itchiness and rashes developed over your face or body, or even difficulty in breathing just a few minutes after eating shrimp, lobster, crab, clam, mussels, oysters or scallops? If yes, you could well have a shellfish allergy.

Should I Eat Shrimp?

Most shrimp Americans eat comes from Asia, but shrimp produced in the U.S. are generally held to stricter environmental standards. Plus, seafood sales can be rife with fraud: a new report from Oceana tested 143 shrimp products across America and found that 30% of shrimp were misrepresented. It’s a rampant practice...

Should We Really Be Eating Shrimp?

The best-tasting shrimp are wild—but some 80 to 90 percent are imported from farms where a dubious array of antibiotics, disinfectants, pesticides, and herbicides are commonly used.

Shrimp and Chemicals: What You Need to Know

What exactly is added to shrimp, and how can you avoid it at the store?

Shrimp Farming: Is Farm-Raised Shrimp Bad for You?

Communities around the world have raised and captured shrimp for centuries. Recent decades and growing demand have given rise to intensive shrimp farming.

The Health Risks of Industrialized Shrimp Production

Whether dipped in cocktail sauce at a party, sizzling in butter at a tapas bar, or topping a salad on a lunch break, shrimp has become the most popular seafood in the United States. The typical American eats three-and-a-half pounds of shrimp a year – surpassing even canned tuna, our long time former favorite. However, even as they pop popcorn shrimp into their mouths, many consumers are not aware that a significant portion of shrimp consumed in the United States – even most of the shrimp labeled as “eco-friendly” – is not caught in U.S. waters. Instead, much of it is grown in man-made ponds containing a mix of ocean and fresh water along the coast of countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Ecuador. These shrimp are often referred to as “farmed” and may be labeled “farmraised,” but in reality, they often are produced under unsafe and unhealthy conditions.

We are eating shrimp in record numbers. But for how much longer?

Americans eat more shrimp than ever – an average of 4.4lb per person – but not all of America’s shrimpers are thriving. Nearly 90% of America’s shrimp comes from overseas, farmed in Asia and Central America, where working conditions and meat quality can be repugnant. It is increasingly rare for fresh, wild-caught, chemical-free shrimp to reach an American consumer’s plate.

What Are We Supposed to Think About Shrimp?

Americans eat more shrimp than ever before. But a cloud hangs over much of the global industry that produces it, with questions about labor practices and sustainability.

Why Shrimp Should Be A Staple On Your Shopping List (Plus 3 Delish Recipes!)

Need a meal packed with lean protein, iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium and omega-3's? Go for shrimp! My freezer always has a bag of these healthy crustaceans in there and yours should too!

Why You Shouldn't Skimp on the Shrimp

Shrimp are rumored to be unhealthy and elevate your cholesterol. Rest assured, shrimp and other shellfish are nutritious foods that can play a part in any diet. Shrimp are packed with minerals, so this needs to be considered as a part of some diets that restrict minerals such as sodium. As with all foods, shrimp can be cooked in both healthy and unhealthy ways.

‘White gold’: why shrimp aquaculture is a solution that caused a huge problem

In the 1980s, farmers in Bangladesh went from paddies to ponds, letting salt water flood their land. Now millions are left counting the cost

Resources

7 questions to ask before you eat that shrimp

As technology has advanced, humans have been able to fish farther, deeper and more efficiently in the world’s oceans. And now some scientists believe that if we don’t start asking questions about the seafood on our plates, the ancient and delicate balance of the sea’s biologic system will be changed forever.

7 Things You Should Know About Shrimp

If you’re a seafood eater and you enjoy these crustaceans, either chilled or in hot dishes, here are seven things you should know.

Shrimp Welfare Project

We guide the shrimp farming industry towards higher welfare practices for a more sustainable and ethical future.

The Sustainable Shrimp

The Sustainable Shrimp Company aims to transform the shrimp farming industry into a sustainable and environmentally-friendly business that provides long-term reliable livelihood to shrimp farmers.