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When And How Can Fish Allergy Occur?

If you’re allergic to fish, a reaction is triggered after you eat or come into contact with some of the protein. For a few very sensitive people, just inhaling fish vapours is enough to cause a mild reaction.

Different people are allergic to different types of fish protein. Most people with an allergy need to avoid all kinds of fish, but some can tolerate particular types.

It’s important you discuss this issue with your doctor and get tested, rather than experimenting yourself. Remember that unlike eggs, cooking fish won’t reduce or destroy the allergenic potency of the protein. 

Other Things To Watch Out For

Sometimes a fish allergy is confused with something called scromboid food poisoning. This can happen if you eat fish that hasn’t been processed correctly or stored at cold enough temperatures.

When this happens, fish (such as tuna) can produce excess histamine. This is the same chemical humans make during an allergic reaction, so your symptoms could be identical to a fish allergy. Scromboid food poisoning is more common in hotter climates, especially where food hygiene rules aren’t always so carefully followed.

Another possible cause of confusion is an allergic reaction to Anasakis, a parasitic worm sometimes found in fish. Again, this is far more common in hotter countries and very rare in the UK.

If you have a fish allergy, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re allergic to shellfish too. If you haven’t eaten shellfish before, ask your doctor for a test to see if it’s safe for you.