Information › Allergies › Fish
Fish allergy and products without fish
Fish allergy is usually an allergy to parvalbumin, a protein found in almost all fish, which is why most people react to several species. Crustaceans and molluscs are separate allergens.
At a glance
- Kind
- Legal allergen (EU)
- On the label
- In bold in the ingredient list
- Also as
- ansjovis, zalm, tonijn, kabeljauw, haring…
- Without fish
- 28.481 products
- Supermarkets
- AH, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet
Recognise
On the label as
- ansjovis
- zalm
- tonijn
- kabeljauw
- haring
- sardine
- visolie
- makreel
- forel
- visextract
- vissaus
- koolvis
- Fish is in bold with the species (zalm salmon, tonijn tuna, kabeljauw cod, ansjovis anchovy…). This site knows those species and counts them when you exclude fish.
- Worcestershire sauce, Caesar dressing, fish sauce, surimi, tapenade and some pizzas contain anchovy or fish.
- Fish gelatine and fish oil supplements must be declared.
Shopping
Examples without fish
- Nestlé Little Steps 1 zuigelingenvoeding 0-6mNestlé · 800 gAlbert Heijn € 13,89Jumbo € 13,89PLUS € 13,89Bevat: Koemelk, Lactose, Melk, Soja
- Nestlé Little steps zuigelingenvoeding 0-6mNestlé · 200 mlAlbert Heijn € 0,99Jumbo € 0,99PLUS € 0,99Bevat: Koemelk, Lactose, Melk, Soja
- Nestlé Little Steps 2 opvolgmelk 6+ mndNestlé · 800 gAlbert Heijn € 13,89Jumbo € 13,89 2e ½PLUS € 13,89Bevat: Koemelk, Lactose, Melk, Soja
- Vis Marine Wokgarnalen knoflook grootVis Marine · 150 gDirk € 3,99Bevat: Schaaldieren, Zwaveldioxide en sulfieten
- Klaas Puul Wokgarnalen rauwKlaas Puul · 450 gDirk € 5,99Bevat: Schaaldieren, Zwaveldioxide en sulfieten
- Ouwehand Mosselen in natuurazijnOuwehand · 355 mlDirk € 2,69Bevat: Weekdieren
All 28.481 products without fish
What to look out for in the shop
- Restaurants and fresh counters are outside this site: cross-contamination through frying oil is a real risk there.
- Omega-3 from algae is a fish-free alternative.
Good to know
Recently with fish in the recipe (8)These products recently took fish onto their label: the recipe changed. This is exactly where reading the label matters most.
- Indo mie Noodles shrimp 5-pack
- Indo mie Noodles mi goreng spicy beef 5-pack
- Iglo Viskraam garnalen krokant gepaneerd
- Iglo Viskraam Gebakken Garnalen Kro
- Original Wagner Piccolinis Schinken Prosciutto 3 x 3 Stuks 270 g
- WAGNER Piccolinis mini pizza salami 9 stuks 270 g
- Original Wagner Piccolinis Pizza Tomate-Mozzarella 3 x 3 Stuks 270 g
- Original Wagner Piccolinis Tre Formaggi 270 g
Cross-contamination and “may contain traces”Fresh fish from the counter can be contaminated through ice, knives and hands; in restaurants shared frying oil is a known risk.
Fresh fish from the counter can be contaminated through ice, knives and hands; in restaurants shared frying oil is a known risk. Packaged products with ‘kan sporen van vis bevatten’ are rare but occur with sauces.
Symptoms and when to see a doctorFish allergy often brings fast hives, swelling, vomiting and sometimes breathing difficulty.
Short of breath, a swelling tongue or throat, or dizzy after eating? Use the adrenaline auto-injector if one has been prescribed and call 112 straight away. Even if it then seems to get better.
Fish allergy often brings fast hives, swelling, vomiting and sometimes breathing difficulty. Even the steam of cooking fish can cause complaints in some people. The allergy usually does not go away.
Is there fish in Worcestershire sauce?
In the classic recipe, yes: anchovy. Fish-free versions exist; ‘vis’ or ‘ansjovis’ is in bold when it is there.
Is fish oil safe with a fish allergy?
Purified fish oil contains almost no protein but must be declared as fish. Algae oil is the safe alternative.
Can I eat shellfish with a fish allergy?
Fish and crustaceans are different allergens. Many people with a fish allergy can eat shrimp, but let a doctor establish that.
What this site does and does not do
We read the ingredient list and the allergen declaration as the supermarket publishes them, and hide every product that contains the allergen. Products without allergen information are hidden by default too: unknown is not the same as safe. What we cannot do is read the pack in the shop. Recipes change, and the information here can lag behind. When in doubt the label in your hand decides, and for questions about your health your doctor or dietitian.
Other allergens
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II: the fourteen allergens that must be on the label.
- The ingredient lists and allergen declarations of Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet, re-read every week.
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