
When Buying Shrimp, Be Extra Cautious to Avoid These 5 Types of Harmful “Hormone Shrimp”
When Buying Shrimp, Be Extra Cautious to Avoid These 5 Types of Harmful “Hormone Shrimp” – Even Seasoned Shoppers Can Be Fooled!
A few small tips below can help you avoid buying “hormone shrimp” – not only do they taste worse, but they can also pose serious health risks.
Shrimp is a favorite dish for many Vietnamese people thanks to its delicious taste, easy preparation, and rich nutritional value. However, with just a little carelessness at the market or supermarket, you could end up buying “hormone shrimp” – shrimp that may look attractive but are harmful to health and poor in nutrients.
“Hormone shrimp” is a common term referring to shrimp that are raised with the use of growth hormones, chemical stimulants, or unknown industrial feed. These substances help shrimp grow rapidly, achieving uniform size and appearance to sell more easily and generate greater profits.
Regular consumption of these shrimp can lead to hormone and chemical residues entering the human body. This may result in endocrine disorders, liver and kidney damage, increased cancer risk, or impaired development in children. Alarmingly, even experienced shoppers can be misled by their shiny, appealing look.
To protect your family’s health, here are 5 telltale signs of “hormone shrimp” you should watch out for:
1. Glossy Shells and Unusual Colors
Fresh shrimp typically have slightly shiny shells with natural colors: black tiger shrimp are grayish-brown, whiteleg shrimp are pale pink, and lobster shrimp are bluish-green to dark. Shrimp treated with hormones or chemicals, however, often have unnaturally glossy shells (as if oiled) and strange colors like bright red, iridescent blue, or pale white – signs of chemical soaking or forced growth. Keep in mind: shrimp that look too perfect might actually be unsafe.
2. Oversized and Unnaturally Uniform Shrimp
Naturally farmed or properly raised shrimp vary in size – some big, some small. But “hormone shrimp” are often injected or fed with hormone-laced feed, causing them to grow rapidly and uniformly, almost like they were mass-produced. If you notice that all the shrimp are exactly the same size with overly plump meat, be on high alert.
3. Strange Odors
Fresh shrimp should have a light, ocean-like scent—not fishy or harsh. If the shrimp smell overly fishy, like disinfectant, chemicals, or have a pungent odor, you should avoid them no matter how fresh or visually appealing they seem. This is a strong indicator that the shrimp may have been preserved with unsafe chemicals or raised with inappropriate hormones and feed.
4. Abnormally Large Heads and Unbalanced Bodies
In healthy shrimp, the head-to-body ratio is balanced. In contrast, “hormone shrimp” often have oversized heads that may take up nearly half the body length. This is due to hormones stimulating excessive growth of the internal organs in the head—where the liver, gut, and metabolic system are located. If the shrimp's head looks disproportionately large or oddly shaped, it’s best not to buy it.
5. Soft, Mushy Flesh with No Bounce
Good shrimp have firm, slightly springy meat that bounces back when pressed. Hormone-boosted shrimp grow fast, but their muscles can’t keep up, often resulting in mushy, limp flesh that easily breaks down when cooked. They also tend to taste bland and lack the natural sweetness of wild or properly farmed shrimp. If you touch the shrimp and it feels limp or if it shrinks significantly when cooked, chances are it’s “hormone shrimp.”
Bonus Tips:
-
Buy shrimp from reputable stores or large supermarkets with clear quality control.
-
Avoid shrimp that are too big, too shiny, or too vibrantly colored.
-
Choose live shrimp or ones with intact bodies. Stay away from pre-shelled or pre-prepped shrimp, as it’s harder to tell their true quality.
Your health—and your taste buds—will thank you!
News in the same category


Don’t Eat These 3 Parts of a Crab — Experts Say They Could Harm Your Health

Bury these two "trash" in a flower pot: Flowers bloom like a stream, and the fruit is sweet and plentiful.

Cooking Rice This Way Packs as Much Protein as 100g of Beef

Put a Handful of Salt in the Fridge: The “Golden” Trick Every Household Needs

Grandparents taught us NOT to wash clothes at night, NOT to hang clothes overnight - We must obey!

Brushing your teeth before bed is a mistake! This is when you really need to brush your teeth

Add this to the flower water and the flowers will stay fresh all week, despite the hot weather

Warning: 5 fatal mistakes when using electric kettles: Number 4 is made by many people, doctors advise to fix it immediately

6 plants in their house: Drive away evil spirits, attract money, and bring good fortune to their children

Closing the door when turning on the air conditioner is not necessarily good, experts show what to do

Warning: 5 Dangerous Mistakes When Using an Electric Kettle

Pork Storage Hack: Don’t Put It Straight in the Fridge

Shiny, Dust-Free Wooden Floors for a Whole Month

Don’t rinse r.a.w chicken: nine food safety tips from microbiologists

Even If You're Loaded, Don't Buy These 5 Types of Shrimp at the Market

Connect to Free Wi-Fi Without a Password in Just One Step

Say Goodbye to Yellow Stains: Best Ways to Clean Your Phone Case

Place This Bunch of Leaves in Your Room

Beware! Plants and garden items that attract snakes that many people don't know about
News Post

Drinking Perilla Leaf and Ginger Tea Is Better Than Any Tonic

Drinking Plain Water Is Healthier Than Eating These 3 Foods in Summer

Can you spot the two ch.il.dren hidden in the picture?

Can the emergency exit door open while flying? — Little-known fact

Cervical Spondylosis — A Common Cause of Neck P.a.in

Stage 4 Can.cer at Age 28: Ignoring 3 Warning Signs Almost Cost Her Life

O arroz deixado na panela elétrica durante a noite ainda pode ser consumido

Don’t Eat These 3 Parts of a Crab — Experts Say They Could Harm Your Health

Caught Early, Treated Better: 5 Warning Signs of Lung Cancer You Must Know

A girl in Brazil was found to have 81 teeth in her mouth

7 Kinds of Pain That Shouldn't Be Ignored

Bury these two "trash" in a flower pot: Flowers bloom like a stream, and the fruit is sweet and plentiful.

The most dangerous foods in the world

Dubbed “The Scariest Photograph Ever Taken”

Cooking Rice This Way Packs as Much Protein as 100g of Beef

DIY Apple Cider Vinegar: Cheap, Delicious, and Safe to Make at Home

5 Warning Signs of Severe Lu.pus

Okra Looks Healthy, But It May Be Off-Limits for These 3 Groups of People

Know About 6 Super-Foods For Osteporosis
