What's the Best Shrimp Brand?

The Short Answer

The best shrimp you can buy is Wild-Caught American shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic. Brands like Biloxi Shrimp Co. and Del Pacifico (Wild Mexican) set the standard for purity—they contain zero chemicals, antibiotics, or preservatives.

If you are shopping at a standard grocery store, look for Wild Argentine Red Shrimp (available at Trader Joe's and Costco) or Whole Foods 365 brand, which bans the moisture-retaining chemicals found in most other bags.

Avoid generic store brands like Great Value (Walmart) and Kroger, as well as major brands like SeaPak. These often contain Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP) and are frequently sourced from industrial farms in India or Indonesia with a history of safety issues—including a major 2025 recall involving radioactive contamination.

Why This Matters

Shrimp is the most popular seafood in America, but it is also one of the dirtiest. Over 90% of the shrimp we eat is imported, mostly from farms in Southeast Asia where regulations are lax.

You are paying for water.

Manufacturers soak peeled shrimp in Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP). This chemical forces the shrimp to absorb excess water—sometimes increasing their weight by 20-30%. You pay $15/lb for shrimp, but you're getting $10 worth of meat and $5 worth of chemical water. When you cook them, the water releases, leaving you with a shrunken, rubbery protein.

Safety is a real concern.

Imported farmed shrimp has a bad track record.

• Antibiotics: Banned antibiotics are frequently detected in shrimp from India and Vietnam.
• Radioactivity: In 2025, the FDA flagged shrimp from Indonesia (sold under brands like Great Value) for Cesium-137 contamination. Is Imported Shrimp Safe
• Labor: The supply chains for Thai and Indian shrimp have been repeatedly linked to human trafficking and slave labor.

What's Actually In Frozen Shrimp

Check the ingredient label on that bag of frozen shrimp. It should say "Shrimp." Maybe "Salt." That's it. Here is what is often in the bad stuff:

• Shrimp — Usually "Litopenaeus vannamei" (Pacific White Shrimp), likely farmed.
• Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP) — A suspected neurotoxin used to "retain moisture." It makes shrimp translucent and rubbery.
• Sodium Bisulfite — A bleaching agent and preservative used to prevent melanosis (black spots). Common allergen. Is Farmed Shrimp Safe
• Salt — Often added to mask the lack of flavor in farmed shrimp.

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• "Wild Caught USA" — The gold standard. Gulf or Atlantic.
• "Chemical Free" — Explicitly states no phosphates or bisulfites.
• "Shell-On" — Harder to treat with chemicals than peeled shrimp.
• Certifications — MSC (Wild), BAP (4-Star only), ASC, or Fair Trade.

Red Flags:

• "Peeled and Deveined" — Unless it says "Chemical Free," these are almost always soaked in STPP.
• "Product of [India/Thailand/Indonesia]" — Higher risk of antibiotics and labor abuses.
• "Treated to retain moisture" — Euphemism for STPP.
• Translucent/Shiny Appearance — Raw shrimp should be grey/white and opaque. If they look glassy, they are soaked in chemicals.

The Best Options

Here is how the major brands stack up.

The Bottom Line

1. Buy Wild American. Look for Biloxi Shrimp Co. or Wood’s Fisheries. If you can't find them locally, order online.

2. Read the label. If you see "Sodium Tripolyphosphate," put it back. You are paying for chemical water.

3. Check the country. Avoid farmed shrimp from India, Vietnam, or Indonesia unless it has a reputable certification (like Whole Foods or BAP 4-Star).

FAQ

Is pink shrimp better than white shrimp?

Color doesn't determine safety, but species matters. Key West Pink Shrimp are wild and sweet. Argentine Red Shrimp naturally taste like lobster. Both are usually superior to the grey "White Shrimp" (Vannamei) which are typically farmed.

What is the black vein in shrimp?

That is the digestive tract (intestine), filled with waste (poop) and sand. It is safe to eat but gritty. Removing it ("deveining") is purely cosmetic and textural. Is Shrimp Healthy

Why do my shrimp taste like ammonia?

That is a sign of spoilage or poor handling. If frozen shrimp smells like ammonia or chlorine when you open the bag, do not eat it. It means the proteins have begun to break down.

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