One Million Pounds of Shrimp Recalled for Parasite Threat

A massive recall of over one million pounds of shrimp has been issued after federal health officials found that the seafood is contaminated with a dangerous parasite.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement this week that the shrimp was being recalled because it may be tainted with a parasite known as "dicyemid."

Dicyemid can cause serious digestive problems in humans, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In some cases, it can also lead to more serious health issues such as kidney failure.

The FDA said that the contaminated shrimp came from several different suppliers located in several different states. The agency did not release the names of any of the suppliers involved in the recall.

In its statement, the FDA urged consumers to avoid eating raw or undercooked shrimp, and said that anyone who thinks they may have been infected by the parasite should seek medical attention.

This is not the first time that a major recall of seafood has been announced due to concerns about parasites. Earlier this year, a massive recall of tuna was issued due to fears that it may be contaminated with a dangerous virus.

California Bans Imports of Fresh Shrimp from Gulf Coast

California has become the latest U.S. state to ban imports of fresh shrimp from the Gulf Coast in the wake of the devastating oil spill.

The ban, announced by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday, will take effect on Saturday and will last at least until authorities determine that it is safe to resume shipments.

"This moratorium is necessary to protect California's fishermen, seafood processors and consumers from possible harm caused by the oil spill," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

The ban covers all fresh shrimp, including farm-raised and wild-caught shrimp, from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The only exception is shrimp that has been processed in a certified facility.

States along the Gulf Coast have been struggling to come up with a response to the massive oil spill, which began on April 20 after an explosion on BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. More than 200 million gallons of oil have leaked from the wellhead so far.

Global Warming Threatens US Shrimp Industry

The Gulf of Mexico accounts for more than 60% of the U.S. shrimp catch, and warmer waters due to climate change are already resulting in fisheries shifts and economic losses for the region. A recent study by NOAA Fisheries economists found that, if current trends continue, the annually average value of the Gulf's shrimp catch will decline from $606 million today to $487 million by 2050 – a 20% decrease.

This isn't just about shrimpers losing out. The ripple effects will be felt throughout the Gulf economy. For example, dockworkers who unload shrimp boats, truckers who transport it, and restaurants that sell it all stand to lose jobs as this valuable industry contracts.

The NOAA economists also projected what would happen if we took aggressive action to reduce emissions and stabilize global temperatures at 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels – the Paris Agreement goal. In this case, the value of the Gulf's shrimp catch would still decline by 11% over the next three decades, but would be better than if no action were taken.

There is some hope on the horizon: recently there have been signs that Louisiana's shrimp industry is beginning to recover from its earlier struggles. However, as long as climate change continues to drive up ocean temperatures, we can expect similar volatility and economic losses in other parts of the country that rely on commercial fishing.

Restaurant Owner Caught Peeling and Eating Raw Shrimp in the Kitchen

A restaurant owner in China was recently caught on video allegedly peeling and eating raw shrimp in the kitchen. The incident took place at a seafood restaurant in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.

In the video, the owner can be seen standing at a work station and peeling a few raw shrimp. He then pops them into his mouth and seems to enjoy them. He even gives a few to another staff member, who also eats them raw.

The video has since gone viral on Chinese social media, with many people expressing outrage at the owner's behavior. Some have even called for the restaurant to be shut down.

This is not the first time that a Chinese restaurateur has been caught eating food in an inappropriate way. In April last year, a chef in Hunan province was captured on camera cooking with his bare feet. And in 2012, a restaurant owner in Beijing was filmed eating noodles straight from the pot with his hands.

These shocking incidents have raised concerns about food safety standards in China's restaurants. It seems that some owners and chefs are not taking their responsibilities seriously and are putting customers' health at risk.

Isabella's Seafood Kitchen Closes After Discovery of Rodent Droppings

Isabella's Seafood Kitchen, a popular seafood restaurant in the heart of downtown, has closed its doors after health inspectors discovered rodent droppings throughout the restaurant.

The health department issued an emergency closure order on Wednesday after finding evidence of rodents in the kitchen and dining area. Several live and dead rodents were also found inside the building.

Restaurant owner Isabella Conti said she was "devastated" by the news and apologized to her customers. She vowed to reopen as soon as possible and said she had already hired a pest control company to get rid of the rodents.

The closure comes at a particularly bad time for Isabella's, which was celebrating its tenth anniversary this month.