Chinese authorities seize shrimps injected with gelatin from local market
Vendor tells reporter the practice, which makes shrimps appear healthier, is not uncommon
Food safety authorities have seized shrimps injected with gelatin from a wet market in southern China.
Gelatin was found in three batches of frozen shrimps in a wet market in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, in recent days, according to Guangdong Satellite TV.
The shrimps’ bodies and head were glued together by edible gelatin, which is often used to make jellies and other desserts. Experts were quoted in the report as saying the suppliers injected the gelatin to make the shrimps appear healthier or to cover up rotten meat.
The gelatin, which is mostly transparent but has a slight yellow tint, is noticeable once the shrimps are cooked. If one pinches the shrimp around the base of its head, the gelatin, which is very elastic in texture, falls off.
The authority said that gelatin made up about 1 per cent of each shrimp’s body weight.