Skip to content
Riot Fest
Tickets
Search
  • Lineup
  • Tickets
  • Fest Info
    • Daily Schedule
    • Album Plays
    • FAQ
    • Lockers
    • Hotels
  • Merch
  • Upcoming Shows
  • Community
    • Beyond the Fest
    • Community Tickets
    • Local Hiring
    • Park Cleanups
    • Vendor Workshop
    • Community Meeting
  • Search
Uh, Scientists Just Found Cocaine in a Bunch of Shrimp

Uh, Scientists Just Found Cocaine in a Bunch of Shrimp

May 3, 2019 (December 6, 2022) // Riot Fest

Humans are disgusting and dirty creatures, ones that keep finding new and creative ways to destroy this planet. Almost everything we throw away eventually ends up in the water system which ends up in the ocean and now scientists are finding cocaine in our shrimp.

In a new study published in Environment International led by King’s College London and the University of Suffolk, scientists collected shrimp samples from fifteen sites on the east coast of the U.K. Every single shrimp they tested had cocaine in it.

But don’t worry; while the most frequently detected compounds in the shrimp were illicit drugs—including cocaine—they also found ketamine and a banned pesticide, fenuron. While drugs in our shrimp is bad, the potential for any effect is likely to be low, so please don’t eat a bucket of popcorn shrimp from Long John Silvers because you think you’re going to get high.

Dr. Thomas Miller, lead author of the study at King’s College London said, “Although concentrations were low, we were able to identify compounds that might be of concern to the environment and crucially, which might pose a risk to wildlife.” So congratulations birds, now you too can eat cocaine shrimp!

“Such regular occurrence of illicit drugs in wildlife was surprising,” Leon Barron from King’s College London said in a press release.

While the study only confirmed cocaine in shrimp from the U.K., at least the USA can say we have oxycodone in our shellfish off the coast of Washington. Study co-author professor Nic Bury from the University of Suffolk said: “Whether the presence of cocaine in aquatic animals is an issue for Suffolk, or more widespread an occurrence in the UK and abroad, awaits further research.”

So… great job, everyone! We’ve polluted the earth so much that now all of our shrimp has cocaine and pesticides in it. We did it.


The Related Rabbit Hole

Scientists Invent An Ingestible Electronic Pill That Can Track Your Farts Scientists Discover Red Wine Can Help Fight the Flu, Still Gets You Drunk Magic Chemical Found in Chicken McNuggets May Be A Cure For Baldness, Scientists Discover
About The Author
Riot Fest

Punk Rock (& more) Music Fest | I'm sorry we didn't book the exact bands you wanted, in the exact order you wanted, in the exact location you wanted, for free. September 19-21, 2025.

Posted in Food + DrinkTagged cocaine, cocaine shrimp, shrimp

Post navigation

  Previous PostNext Post 
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Spotify
Riot Fest Tickets
Upcoming Shows Playlist
Riot Fest Presents Shows
Jun. 25, 2025
Metro
Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake

The Suicide Machines

Fishbone

Bite Me Bambi

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Less Than Jake
Jun. 25, 2025
Cobra Lounge
Aurorawave

Aurorawave

DoneFor

Droogs AG

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Aurorawave
Jun. 26, 2025
Metro
Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake

Fishbone

The Suicide Machines

Bite Me Bambi

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Less Than Jake
Jun. 26, 2025
Cobra Lounge
The Native Howl

The Native Howl

Tejon Street Corner Thieves

CRICKET!

Tickets(Opens in new window).
The Native Howl
Jul. 1, 2025
Cobra Lounge
Strung Out

Strung Out

Death By Stereo

Counterpunch

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Strung Out
Jul. 2, 2025
Bottom Lounge
Tripping Daisy

Tripping Daisy

Jumprope

Tickets(Opens in new window).
Tripping Daisy

MORE SHOWS

Greatest Hits

2025 FESTIVAL PARTNERS


  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Spotify
  • Mail

NEWSLETTER — FAQ — CONTACT — HISTORY

InstagramTwitterYouTubeTikTokFacebook

Copyright © 2025 Riot Fest Corporation. Privacy Policy.

Search for:

Send me emails so I don’t have to go to your website anymore.