Why would my shrimp smell like bleach???

OK, 2008 SUCKED, so of course I shouldnt expect the last day fo this crappy year to be any better right?

I usually have shrimp on New Years eve, DH went to Stop & Shop to pick up a few things, first stopped at Shaws to see if they had a certain brand of something that S&S doesnt have, and had the bright idea to get my shrimp there instead of S&S which is usually busier. The fish market at Shaws was dead (shouldnt that be a warning sign?) Anyway, I just tried to eat it, got cocktail sauce all ready - and the shrimp smells so weird - like bleach! What would cause that?
This is the cooked & ready to eat cocktail kind of shrimp.
I cant eat it & I am bummed (& hungry because I never had dinner either). Any ideas why it would smell this way?

could they have done it to mask the smell

Not to make light of the situation, but I think it would be worse if your bleach smelled like shrimp. Imagine how the sheets and towels would smell! But in all seriousness, I'm sorry to hear that your dinner was ruined! That's dissapointing. If you call the place where you bought it and explain your situation, they may send you a gift certificate.

Happy new year to you!

Didn't the Food Lion grocery chain get in trouble for that a few years ago? They were dipping their fish in bleach so they could extend the sell by date. 60 Minutes did a show on it.

I once got bleach smelling fish from the grocery and asked a seafood company online about it.

They said it was spoiled and that seafood often smells like bleach when ot goes real bad....it is the ammonia from the cells breaking down....DO NOT EAT IT!

Originally Posted by VALENTINE I once got bleach smelling fish from the grocery and asked a seafood company online about it. They said it was spoiled and that seafood often smells like bleach when ot goes real bad....it is the ammonia from the cells breaking down....DO NOT EAT IT!

Yeah I'm pretty sure this is fact - do not eat it! I would take it back for a refund...

DON'T EAT THEM - they have gone bad. Here is something I found on google -
"When shrimp start to go bad, they smell like ammonia"

Freeze it as it is and take it back to them when they open up after New Year's. Surely shouldn't smell like bleach. Sorry your treat was ruined.

I just looked it up in google...it was ABC, not 60 Minutes:

The 25-minute segment included film that ABC said was shot with a camera smuggled into a Food Lion store by a producer who took a job as a meat wrapper. The film showed employees in the meat department rewrapping old meat, poultry, ham and fish past the "sell by" dates.

One former employee interviewed on the show told of soaking spoiled meat and fish in bleach to remove the stench so the food would sell.

Originally Posted by StinaWins I just looked it up in google...it was ABC, not 60 Minutes: The 25-minute segment included film that ABC said was shot with a camera smuggled into a Food Lion store by a producer who took a job as a meat wrapper. The film showed employees in the meat department rewrapping old meat, poultry, ham and fish past the "sell by" dates. One former employee interviewed on the show told of soaking spoiled meat and fish in bleach to remove the stench so the food would sell.

Seriously!?!? My god!!

I don't believe shrimp has a smell unless it is going bad

Thanks everyone...

I did eat one before I smelled it (I also happen to be sick since last Sat & still a bit congested)
I had DH smell it & he agreed...he will take them back tomorrow & complain. I am pissed! That's dangerous, to be selling bad seafood.
Now my stomach feels queasy but it may be psychological...?
Anyway, thanks for the help - and wishing everyone an awesome 2009!

sorry this happened to you, hope you fell ok through the night

many supermarket chains (they are not supposed to do it, but do anyway) wash the shrimp that is starting to turn in bleach and water to remove the odor. Winn Dixie was doing this for years (my late father in law worked for them in the seafood area for years) and was fined more times than all my family has fingers and toes for the practice.

Yuck! Either way its not good - shrimp has gone bad and smells like ammonia or store has washed it in ammonia to get rid of the stench. Never heard of such a thing but doesn't surprise me. One thing my mama taught me - if you think meat or fish smells bad - even the slightest bit - it IS bad and throw it out.

"Off" shrimp smells distinctly of ammonia.