Seafood Parts That May Contain Toxins You Should Not Eat

Nutritionists recommend eating more seafood than meat. Seafood is rich in nutrients, especially omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). However, not all parts of seafood are edible, and each species has parts that should not be eaten.

Below are parts of seafood that are not good for your health:

Parts of shrimp should not be eaten

Shrimp head: This is where the shrimp's internal organs such as intestines, food, gills, and respiratory organs are stored, so there are many potential disease-causing bacteria and parasites. This is also the first part to decompose when the shrimp dies. Therefore, the shrimp head is at high risk of bacterial and toxic contamination if not cooked, and should not be eaten.

The shrimp head and shell are two parts that should not be eaten.

Shrimp shell:Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh, former staff of the Institute of Biotechnology and Food, University of Science and Technology, said that shrimp is rich in nutrients and calcium, but the shell does not contain calcium. The main source of calcium in shrimp is mainly in the meat, legs and claws, while the shrimp shell only has chitin (a type of polymer) that makes up the shell of crustaceans. This substance is difficult to digest, so it should be limited.

Parts of crab should not be eaten

crab: This part is located under the crab's shell, has a shape quite similar to comb teeth and is soft. When the crab comes out of the water, a certain amount of water is stored in the gills to help the crab continue to breathe and maintain life for a long time. Therefore, dirt and bacteria in the water can stick to the crab's gills, which is dangerous to health when eaten.

Crab intestines: Crab intestines contain waste and toxins, so it is best not to eat this part.

Crab stomach: This part is the small yellow triangular bone bag located in the crab's body. When eating, gently remove this part to avoid breaking it because the crab's stomach contains a lot of sand and dirt.

Do not eat fish intestines and bile.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Ninh, National Institute of Nutrition, fish intestines are the dirtiest part, because fish living in water are very susceptible to toxins and microorganisms living in water. In particular, fish are omnivorous. These foods pass through the mouth and remain in the fish intestines. In addition, fish intestines are susceptible to parasites, tapeworm eggs, worm eggs and roundworms.

The intestines are the dirtiest part of the fish.

Fish bile is a source of enzymes, and also contains many toxins. Eating fish bile can cause poisoning, septic shock, acute bleeding, and even death.

Parts of snails should not be eaten

Snail intestines: This part is located at the tail of the screw, at the smallest rotation, contains a lot of dirt, should not be eaten.

Snail brain: This is the part at the head of the snail that contains toxic substances, which can easily cause dizziness and food poisoning if eaten in large quantities. Before cooking, you need to clean it by soaking the snail in clean water many times. Avoid eating strange types of snails to avoid poisoning.

Parts of scallops you should not eat

When eating, you need to remove the thin membrane surrounding the scallop meat, because this is the part of the scallop that contains the most dirt and sand. In addition, you should remove the black stomach, which is the internal organs of the scallop.

Nutritionists also recommend being cautious when eating strange seafood, avoiding types that may contain toxins such as blue-ringed octopus, sea horseshoe crabs, starfish, etc. Be careful when feeding seafood to children. Do not eat seafood that has been left for a long time, and limit eating seafood that has not been thoroughly cooked.