Northern US and Canadian Shrimp

America’s #1 favorite seafood, shrimp have a complicated story to tell. Most shrimp currently sold in the U.S. are imported from farms in Southeast Asia and Latin America where environmental regulations are lax or non-existent. And even in the U.S., trawling for shrimp has had a devastating impact on the Gulf. The good news is that there are ocean-friendly options that are low-contaminant choices for children.

How to shop for it

Look for these three KidSafe Seafood options:

• Northern “salad” shrimp from Canada: Wild-caught from cold northern waters, these tiny shrimp are sweet and flavorful. They are typically sold pre-peeled, cooked, and ready to eat.

• Oregon pink shrimp (“Cocktail” or “Ocean” shrimp): These bite-sized shrimp are best known in shrimp cocktails and can be easily found in grocery stores through the west coast.

• U.S. farmed shrimp: A handful of U.S. shrimp farms are producing high-quality shrimp in a more environmentally friendly manner than foreign producers. A new product, they are becoming increasingly available in stores across the country. Look for them at a variety of stores, including Wal-Mart, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, and Publix, or get a list of stores in your area through www.ecofish.com.

How to cook it

The options for preparing shrimp in kid-friendly dishes are limitless.

For the smaller cocktail and salad shrimps: Mix them into just about any dish—omelets, salads, soups, etc.—to add low-fat protein, texture, and flavor. Try them as a pizza topping or sandwich filling.

For the larger U.S. farmed shrimp: Use them for all your favorite shrimp recipes. Large and flavorful, they are the perfect shrimp for grilling on skewers, stir-frying, or tossing into pasta dishes.

For more shrimp recipes, click here.