Information › Allergies › Molluscs
Mollusc allergy
Molluscs are an allergen of their own, apart from crustaceans: mussels, oysters, cockles, squid, octopus and snails. Many people with a crustacean allergy also react to molluscs, but not everyone.
At a glance
- Kind
- Legal allergen (EU)
- On the label
- In bold in the ingredient list
- Also as
- mossel, oester, inktvis, octopus, slak…
- Without molluscs
- 29.698 products
- Supermarkets
- AH, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet
Recognise
On the label as
- mossel
- oester
- inktvis
- octopus
- slak
- slakken
- coquille
- sint-jakobsschelp
- kokkel
- calamares
- pijlinktvis
- Molluscs are in bold with the species.
- Oyster sauce, paella mixes, seafood mixes and some Asian snacks are known sources.
Shopping
Examples without molluscs
- Zuivelhoeve Boern yoghurt aardbeiZuivelhoeve · 750 gDirk € 2,79Hoogvliet € 2,79Albert Heijn € 2,99Jumbo € 2,99PLUS € 2,99Bevat: Koemelk, Lactose, Melk(eiwit)
- Go-Tan Sticky chicken korean bbqGo-Tan · 220 mlDirk € 2,39Hoogvliet € 2,46Albert Heijn € 2,49Jumbo € 2,49PLUS € 2,49Bevat: Gluten, Sesam(zaad), Soja, Tarwe
- Vifit Drinkyoghurt perzikVifit · 500 mlDirk € 1,39Hoogvliet € 1,39Albert Heijn € 1,59Jumbo € 1,59PLUS € 1,59Bevat: Koemelk, Lactose, Melk(eiwit)
- Verkade Lange nekkenVerkade · 150 gDirk € 2,99Hoogvliet € 3,32Albert Heijn € 3,39Jumbo € 3,39PLUS € 3,39Bevat: Gerst, Gluten, Koemelk, Lactose, Melk(eiwit), Soja, TarweKan sporen bevatten: Ei, Noten
- Calvé KnoflooksausCalvé · 320 mlDirk € 1,99Hoogvliet € 1,99Albert Heijn € 2,29Jumbo € 2,29PLUS € 2,29Bevat: Ei, Koemelk, Lactose, Melk(eiwit), Mosterd
- Croma SmeltjusCroma · 250 gDirk € 2,09Hoogvliet € 2,15Albert Heijn € 2,19Jumbo € 2,19PLUS € 2,19Bevat: Koemelk, Lactose, Melk(eiwit), Soja
All 29.698 products without molluscs
What to look out for in the shop
- Molluscs are rarely ‘hidden’; most sources are recognisable. The risk is mainly in restaurants.
Good to know
Recently with molluscs in the recipe (3)These products recently took molluscs onto their label: the recipe changed. This is exactly where reading the label matters most.
Cross-contamination and “may contain traces”Oyster sauce, paella and seafood mixes and some Asian snacks contain molluscs.
Oyster sauce, paella and seafood mixes and some Asian snacks contain molluscs. Cross-contamination mainly matters at the fish counter and in restaurants.
Symptoms and when to see a doctorMollusc allergy resembles crustacean allergy: a fast reaction with swelling, hives, stomach and gut complaints, 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.
Mollusc allergy resembles crustacean allergy: a fast reaction with swelling, hives, stomach and gut complaints, and sometimes breathing difficulty.
What are molluscs?
Mussels, oysters, cockles, squid, octopus, snails. They are named in bold on the label.
Is there mollusc in fish sauce?
Fish sauce is usually made from anchovy (fish). Oyster sauce contains oyster (mollusc). Read which of the two is in it.
Is squid a crustacean?
No, squid is a mollusc.
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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