Do you devein your shrimp?

[loess]

I am an oyster and mussel pro in the kitchen, but when it comes to shrimp I'm a newbie. Just never got into buying and preparing them (probably a subconscious holdover of my vegan days in my early 20's when I learned of bycatch in the trawl nets, especially with regard to sea turtles). Anyway, I am wondering, is there any real compelling reason to devein wild shrimp/prawns before you eat them? It is tedious enough shelling them, and the waste in their digestive system doesn't really faze me; it's just plankton and other bits of sea animals, no?

 

[charlie]

I always de-vein mine, both veins.

 

[juanitacarlos]

I think it's personal choice. Sometimes the really big prawns are jam packed with poop, and can actually effect the taste. But you will not get sick at all from eating it. Small ones I don't bother, but sometimes the big ones I do.