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.S., as required by federal law, either within the ingredient list or in a separate “Contains” statement on the package. For crustacean shellfish, the specific variety must also be identified on the package such as crab or shrimp.
Mollusks are not required to be labeled in the U.S. at this time and may be present in a food item unexpectedly.
Avoid foods that contain shellfish or any of these ingredients:
- Barnacle
- Crab
- Crawfish (crawdad, crayfish, ecrevisse)
- Krill
- Lobster (langouste, langoustine, Moreton bay bugs, scampi, tomalley)
- Prawns
- Shrimp (crevette, scampi)
Your doctor may advise you to avoid mollusks* or these ingredients:
- Abalone
- Clams (cherrystone, geoduck, littleneck, pismo, quahog)
- co*ckle
- Cuttlefish
- Limpet (lapas, opihi)
- Mussels
- Octopus
- Oysters
- Periwinkle
- Sea cucumber
- Sea urchin
- Scallops
- Snails (escargot)
- Squid (calamari)
- Whelk (Turban shell)
*Note: The federal government does not require mollusks to be fully disclosed on product labels.
Shellfish are sometimes found in the following:
- Bouillabaisse
- Cuttlefish ink
- Glucosamine
- Fish stock
- Seafood flavoring (e.g., crab or clam extract)
- Fish stock or fish sauce (sometimes made from krill)
- Surimi
FAQs
There are two groups of shellfish: crustaceans (such as shrimp, prawns, crab and lobster) and mollusks/bivalves (such as clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, octopus, squid, abalone, snail).
What seafood is not shellfish? ›
Fish (salmon, tuna, cod, haddock and so on) have bones and gills, whereas shellfish (crab, lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams) are invertebrates with shells. You can read our seafood allergies Q&A for more information.
Is salmon a shellfish? ›
Note: a strict shellfish allergy does not include fin fish (Salmon, Tuna, etc.), which are from another biologic group and food family than shellfish.
Is tilapia a shellfish? ›
There are three types of seafood: crustaceans (crab, shrimp, lobster), mollusks (clam, mussel, oyster, scallop), and finned fish (cod, flounder, haddock, perch, salmon, tilapia, tuna, etc).
What are the healthiest shellfish to eat? ›
Regularly eating shellfish — especially oysters, clams, mussels, lobster, and crab — may improve your zinc status and overall immune function. Shellfish are loaded with protein and healthy fats that may aid weight loss.
Why is shellfish unhealthy? ›
Although shellfish are highly nutritious, they have some disadvantages when consumed excessively. Shellfish have the potential to accumulate heavy metals such as mercury or cadmium from the environment. The accumulation of these compounds in our bodies can lead to organ damage and other health problems.
What shellfish are most allergic? ›
Within the shellfish family, it is the crustacean group (shrimp, lobster and crab) that causes the greatest number of allergic reactions. Many shellfish-allergic people can tolerate mollusks (scallops, oysters, clams and mussels).
Can you eat Worcestershire sauce if allergic to shellfish? ›
Foods to Avoid with a Shellfish Allergy
Worcestershire sauce. Imitation crab. Ceviche. Fish stock.
Why do my joints hurt after eating seafood? ›
SHRIMP/LOBSTER/SCALLOPS & OTHER SHELLFISH.
These are all high-purine foods, which lead to production of uric acid as they break down. Uric acid forms ions and salts known as urates. These urate crystals accumulate in your joints, causing inflammation and often intense pain.
Why am I suddenly allergic to shellfish? ›
Shellfish allergies are most often the immune system's response to a protein found in shellfish muscles called tropomyosin. Antibodies trigger the release of chemicals such as histamines to attack the tropomyosin.
Can someone eat imitation crab if allergic to shellfish? Likely not. This is because imitation crab typically contains 2% or less of king crab meat (shellfish) and also contains natural and artificial extracts of crab and lobster.
Are shrimp and lobster considered shellfish? ›
Within the shellfish family, the crustacean group (shrimp, lobster and crab) causes the greatest number of allergic reactions. Many shellfish-allergic people can eat mollusks (scallops, oysters, clams and mussels) with no problem.
Is A King crab A shellfish? ›
British Columbia to Japan north to the Bering Sea with Bristol Bay and Kodiak Archipelago being the centers of its abundance in Alaska. Red king crabs were historically the most commercially important shellfish species in Alaska.
Is calamari a shellfish? ›
Shellfish (seafood without a backbone) can also cause allergic reactions, and include: crustaceans such as prawns / shrimp, lobster, crab, crayfish, yabbies. molluscs such as oysters, mussels, clams, octopus, squid, calamari, abalone, sea slugs, eels.
What defines a shellfish? ›
shellfish. noun. shell·fish ˈshel-ˌfish. : an invertebrate animal that lives in water and has a shell. especially : an edible mollusk (as an oyster) or crustacean (as a crab)
