How much do you know about shrimp? In honor of National Shrimp Day on May 10, why not try out these fun true-or-false questions?
True or false? Shrimp is the third-most popular seafood in the U.S.
FALSE. It’s the number-one favorite!
True or false? A three-ounce portion of cooked shrimp delivers 84 calories and about 20 grams of protein.
TRUE. It is also a source of omega-3 fatty acids, and it contains virtually no saturated fat. Here’s the nutrient data.
True or false? Shrimp contains an antioxidant called astaxanthin that is more powerful than the lycopene found in tomatoes.
TRUE. This compound, responsible for the pinkish-orange color you see in shrimp, may play an important role in health. Learn more in the shrimp nutrition blog.
True or false? Shrimp is featured in recipes from ancient Rome.
TRUE. Apicus, the renowned gourmet, featured shrimp recipes in the ancient cookbook, Book II: Minces. You can see his recipes, as well as other historic shrimp recipes like shrimp cocktail, shrimp scampi, and shrimp wiggle, on the Food Timeline.
True or false? About 50% of the shrimp consumed in the U.S. is imported.
FALSE. About 90% is imported. This includes wild-caught shrimp and farmed shrimp. Key production areas are Southeast Asia and Latin America.
True or false? On average, Americans eat about 2.3 pounds of shrimp per person per year.
FALSE. It’s 5.9 pounds of shrimp per person—and that figure has increased since 2020, notes Seafood Source.
True or false? Some people are allergic to shrimp.
TRUE. About 2.9% of U.S. adults have a shellfish allergy, according to the SeaGrant program at North Caroline University. Shellfish are on the list of “big 9” allergens identified by the FDA.
True or False? Deveined shrimp has the carotid artery removed.
FALSE. What is referred to as the “vein” is actually the shrimp’s intestinal tract. Some consumers prefer their shrimp de-veined.
True or False? In purchasing specifications, shrimp labelled as 26/30 contains 26-30 pounds of product.
FALSE. The specification 26/30 (extra large) means there are between 26 and 30 pieces per pound, a reflection of shrimp sizing. Some other common sizes are 21/25 (jumbo), and 31/25 (large).
