Read all product labels prior to the consumption of a new food product. These statements are one in the same and manufacturers are not required to include these advisory statements.
Whether or not the statement appears on a product has no baring on the safety. The absence of the statement does not necessarily mean that products may have not been exposed to cross contact. Cross-contact is when a food item has been manufactured on a shared equipment with an allergen.
It's recommended that you contact the manufacturer and ask specific questions about a product to confirm its safety. Foods labeled as "kosher" will not contain any shellfish products. Cross-contact sometimes referred to as cross contamination occurs when the protein from a food one is allergic to contaminates a normally safe food. This can happen during preparation, cooking, or serving. Due to the risk of cross contact individuals with a shellfish allergy may wish to avoid seafood restaurants or those that offer dishes made with shellfish.
For example, pans used to make a shrimp scampi dish that are not carefully cleaned with soap and hot water could potentially transfer shrimp to another dish. Be careful with laminated menus, surfaces, reusable place-settings, and on-table condiments at restaurants that serve shellfish that could be touched and contaminated, and then not washed. As always, clear communication with restaurant staff is key to avoid a reaction caused by cross-contact.
Such individuals must also be very careful when ordering fish from a fish market to avoid the risk of contamination in the display and packaging.
The following is a list of words that indicate, or might indicate the presence of shellfish. Shellfish actually contains two categories of food, crustaceans and mollusks:. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Home Allergies. Shellfish and fish allergies. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms of shellfish and fish allergies Causes of shellfish and fish allergies Diagnosis of shellfish and fish allergies Treatment for shellfish and fish allergies Where to get help. Milder allergic symptoms that can occur before a severe allergic reaction include: raised red bumps of skin — hives urticaria swelling of the lips tingling of the throat and mouth itchy skin and rash runny nose tightening of the throat digestive symptoms — cramps, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting.
Keeping a record of your symptoms Diagnosing an allergy can be difficult. Your diary could include information about whether the symptoms occur: inside your home, outside or both for a short time or longer at night, during the day or when you wake up after you have had a particular food or drink after you have taken a particular medication, either prescription or over the counter from a pharmacy or supermarket after you have taken a herbal medicine.
Severe allergic reaction — anaphylaxis A severe allergic reaction anaphylaxis is life threatening. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include: difficult or noisy breathing swelling of the tongue swelling or tightness of the throat difficulty talking or a hoarse voice wheeze or persistent cough persistent dizziness or collapse paleness and floppiness in young children.
Causes of shellfish and fish allergies For all allergies, the immune system reacts to specific allergy triggers allergens. The list of fish that can cause an allergic reaction is quite long and includes, but is not limited to: barramundi cod flake salmon snapper trout tuna whiting.
The list of shellfish including molluscs and crustaceans that can cause allergic reactions includes, but is not limited to: calamari crayfish cuttlefish lobster mussels oysters prawns squid. Diagnosis of shellfish and fish allergies If you have allergic symptoms, visit your family doctor, who will ask some questions about your allergic reactions. To test for an allergy to shellfish or fish, the allergist may: do a skin prick test do a blood test ask you to temporarily avoid all shellfish or fish elimination diet , then follow up with the introduction of the food back into your diet food challenge under strict medical supervision.
About 60 percent of people with shellfish allergy experience their first allergic reaction as adults. Shellfish can cause severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis.
Allergic reactions can be unpredictable, and even very small amounts of shellfish can cause one. If you have a shellfish allergy, keep an epinephrine injection device with you at all times. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. To prevent a reaction, it is very important to avoid all shellfish and shellfish products. Always read food labels and ask questions about ingredients before eating a food that you have not prepared yourself.
Most people who are allergic to one group of shellfish are allergic to other types. Your allergist will usually recommend you avoid all kinds of shellfish. If you are allergic to a specific type of shellfish but want to eat other shellfish, talk to your doctor about further allergy testing. Steer clear of seafood restaurants, where there is a high risk of food cross-contact. You should also avoid touching shellfish and going to fish markets.
Being in any area where shellfish are being cooked can put you at risk, as shellfish protein could be in the steam. Crustacean shellfish are one of the eight major allergens that must be listed in plain language on packaged foods sold in the U. Look for advisory statements such as "May contain fish," "Processed in a facility that also processes fish," or "Manufactured on equipment also used for fish. Manufacturers also do not have to list mollusk shellfish ingredients because mollusk shellfish clams, mussels, oysters, or scallops are not considered a major food allergen.
When labels say a food contains shellfish, they refer to crustacean shellfish. Contact the company to see about cross-contamination risk with mollusks. Cross-contamination often happens in restaurants. In kitchens, shellfish can get into a food product because the staff use the same surfaces, utensils like knives, cutting boards, or pans , or oil to prepare both shellfish and other foods.
This is particularly common in seafood restaurants, so some people find it safer to avoid these restaurants. Shellfish is also used in a lot of Asian cooking, so there's a risk of cross-contamination in Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, or Japanese restaurants.
When eating at restaurants, it may be best to avoid fried foods because many places cook chicken, French fries, and shellfish in the same oil. When eating away from home, make sure you have an epinephrine auto-injector with you and that it hasn't expired. Also, tell the people preparing or serving your child's food about the shellfish allergy. Sometimes, you may want to bring food with you that you know is safe. Don't eat at the restaurant if the chef, manager, or owner seems uncomfortable with your request for a safe meal.
Also talk to the staff at school about cross-contamination risks for foods in the cafeteria. It may be best to pack lunches at home so you can control what's in them. Reviewed by: Stephen F. Dinetz, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a Shellfish Allergy?
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