scampi

No. Remove it with the point of a sharp knife or a wooden cocktail stick. It's not poisonous but can spoil the flavour.

hmm, interesting, I've never had scampi before until today in a pub at lunchtime with some work colleagues, it tasted very nice, then I noticed the 'vein' in each piece and was really put off, it was probably bought-in frozen.

btw Scampi doesn't have to be breadcrumbed or battered and deep-fried. Look up recipes for langoustines, the French word for this tasty little crustacean as opposed to the Italian. Delicious, freshly cooked just with mayonnaise.