This article is a comprehensive guide to shellfish.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Shellfish Types That Cause Allergies
Shellfish are divided into two familiesmollusks and crustaceans.
It’s possible to be allergic to just one of these two types of shellfish.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
For example, you might be allergic to crustaceans but not mollusks.
If you’re allergic to one crustacean, you’re likely allergic to all of them.
For example, if you’re allergic to crab you’re likely allergic to shrimp too.
However, most people who are allergic to one shellfish family are allergic to both.
Only ingredients made from crustaceans must be identified on labels with an allergy warning.
This can be a problem for people who have bad allergic reactions to mollusks.
Most food packaging will highlight (or at least list) mollusk ingredients.
By carefully reading the package ingredient list, you should be able to identify mollusk-containing foods.
For example, a jar of white clam sauce almost certainly will contain clams or clam juice.
You’ll know to steer clear of it.
And fried calamari, also known as fried squid, will include calamari.
see to it to read food labels carefully.
When in doubt, don’t eat the food you’re not sure about.
Symptoms of Shellfish Allergy
The crustacean group causes the greatest number of allergic reactions.
Shellfish are often stored together in restaurants and markets, socross-contaminationbetween crustaceans and mollusks can occur.
Always tell your server or a restaurant manager about your allergy.
Ask them if any items you’re considering contain shellfish.
Be on the lookout for these dishes and ingredients in restaurants.
These can include:
Summary
Shellfish allergy can cause severe symptoms.
If you’ve been diagnosed with it, you’ll need to carefully avoid all shellfish.
This isn’t always easy, since some food ingredients may not be immediately recognized as shellfish.
You may also need to avoid restaurants and certain cuisine that commonly use shellfish in recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely.
Most people do not outgrow shellfish allergies.
However, studies show that 46% of people allergic to shrimp outgrew their shrimp allergy in 10 years.
The primary allergen in shellfish is a protein called tropomyosin.
Others include parvalbumin and arginine kinase.
In all, there are around 20 individual proteins that are potential allergens in shellfish.
It depends on the severity of the reaction.
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