Langoustines

[warpig3]

I have some frozen langoustines in the freezer and they really stink! They smell really, really fishy and are probably tainting all the other food around them. I have other frozen fish which don't smell at all, so, is there any reason why they are so smelly or have they gone off (presumeably before I bought them)?

Thanks
warpig

[funnygirl]

I would chuck them out!!

Check the date, if you have one, if not I really would bin them.

Shame.

[warpig3]

The date is Sept 08, so they should be ok.

I remember when I lifted them out of the freezer in the supermarket that I lifted them from the top of the pile (it was a high pile), I dont normally do this, I normally lift from the middle-bottom. I think they must have been sitting above the level for the correct temperature and defrosted slightly, grrrr.

Was hoping, because they were shellfish, that somehow that would make them smell stronger.

[BRAVO1]

Some fish do smell stronger than others...I think it's iodene content or something ?.

Be carefull with all shellfish, as these can be dangerous.

A rotten fish will give out a strong Ammonia smell.

Rather than risk your life with food posioning, I would dispose of these ASAP.

Remember in the summer, even putting chilled fish or shellfish into a warm car boot, can put the items at risk of contamination.

Use chiller bags or pack between frozen foods for transportation.

[warpig3]

Definitely not an ammonia smell BRAVO, just really fishy.

I will be in the supermarket today, and go to the freezer and smell the other ones there, just to see if they are the same. If you dont hear from me then I have been arrested on suspicion of abusing shellfish in a public place!

[BRAVO1]

Over filling of freezer cabinets, and frozen food sitting in cages in supermarkets is a big problem.

Your spot on, always pick food from the lower or middle levels.

All commercial chest freezers have a fill line.

If the packaging isn't frozen, but instead is like damp cardboard, DON'T buy.

Defrosted frozen fish cannot be deep frozen.

Complain to the manager of the store.

[BRAVO1]

Good - Luck

I have been known to open frozen packets just to check.

I was a commercial refrigeration engineer for a few years, and inspected supermarket freezers.

Over filling of semi-frozen and defrosted items was our biggest problem...These Supermarket kid's haven't got a clue ?

Never mess with fish or shell fish as it can be a killer.

[whiffey]

I would chuck them out as well. Even if you do eat them, won't you then spend the next few hours wondering if that slight twinge in the belly is incipient food poisoning?

A friend of mine caught a crab from the sea at Brighton, took it home unrefrigerated in the boot of the car, and ate it the same evening - up all night very ill.

[BRAVO1]

Shellfish off the beach - ALWAYS BOIL.

Fish can cause very nasty food posioning, which can in extreame cases kill.

[terambulan]

I would run the critters under a slow cold tap till they defrost. When pliable, if they smell right, cook & eat. If not, cats will have a feast!

[Kazzarooney]

I have had prawns that stunk and they were fine. I think what may have happended is another bag had split and contaminated outer wrapping causing stinkage

[BRAVO1]

I personally have a tendancy not to eat thing's that STINK as it is often an indication that it has gone off.

That is with the exception of Blue Cheese !

Fish has a tendancy to smell like fish, but if in any doub't throw it out.

I had a piece of fish that didn't smell right, even my cat turned her nose up at it.

[BRAVO1]

For Reference : Scombroid poisoning: A substance like histamine builds up in some fish when they get too warm after they�re caught. Histamine is a chemical that serves as a kind of alarm to let your immune system know that an infection is attacking part of the body. If you eat a fish that was not properly cooled after it was caught, you may react to the histamine that is released into your body.

Symptoms of scombroid poisoning will usually develop 20 to 30 minutes after you eat an affected fish. They can include flushing (turning red), nausea, vomiting, hives and difficulty breathing. These symptoms are similar to other allergic reactions. However, getting scombroid poisoning does not mean you are allergic to fish.

The symptoms of scombroid poisoning last for 6 to 8 hours after you eat an affected fish. The symptoms can come back any time you eat fish that has not been refrigerated properly.

Scombroid poisoning is treated using an antihistamine (a medicine that blocks the histamine in your blood).

I hope this help's !

[Ethel]

Frozen foodstuffs normally do not smell until they start to thaw out.

Throw them out

[warpig3]

Thank you all for your input, especially BRAVO.

I am going to the supermarket today and will take them back (dont have receipt so they may not refund/exchange them). But I think I would like to point out to them that they should keep an eye on the levels they fill their fridges to (like they dont know that anyway).

Also, I have an ongoing vendetta against this particular supermarket chain so it pleases me to waste their time when I have nothing better to do - how sad am I???????

[funnygirl]

You are within your rights Warpig!

Go for it!

[BRAVO1]

Glad to be of help warpig3.

Buying and eating fish and shellfish will never be the same again !.

All the best BRAVO1.

[theonlyone]

Throw them out ...and clean the freezer ...
i've had gastro -enteritis ..not nice so
better safe than sorry ....