Fish and products thereof

Fish and products thereof

Fish and products thereof, except:

(a) fish gelatine used as carrier for vitamin or carotenoid preparations
(b) fish gelatine or Isinglass used as fining agent in beer and wine

Around 0.1 per cent of the European population demonstrate a reaction when exposed to fish in provocation tests. The numbers vary by country. In regions such as Scandinavia, where a lot of fish is consumed and processed, fish allergies are more common.

Allergic reactions to fish are mainly caused by a specific kind of protein called parvalbumin. The white muscle tissue of fish is especially high in parvalbumins – much higher than in red muscle tissues. This explains why fish species such as tuna, which have mostly red muscle tissue, are often better tolerated by people who are allergic to fish.

Parvalbumins are relatively heat stable. This means that they are not destroyed through cooking or grilling. Both raw and cooked fish can therefore trigger allergy symptoms. Most people with fish allergies react to several fish species. Monoallergies – allergies to individual fish species – also exist.

While an allergic reaction is usually triggered when fish is eaten, very sensitive people develop allergy symptoms just by breathing in the steam from cooked fish. An allergy can also be caused by inhaling dust containing dried fish particles or through skin contact with fish, for example, during fish processing.

Symptoms

A fish allergy can cause mild or severe reactions in various organs. Symptoms range from what is called oral allergy syndrome, in which the mucosa in the mouth and throat start to tingle or swell a few minutes to hours after exposure, to anaphylactic shock accompanied by difficulty breathing and circulatory collapse.

Abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhoea can occur. The skin may also develop allergic reactions. Apart from itchiness, redness and hives, a fish allergy can also trigger or worsen an eczema flare-up. In still other cases, the airways can be affected, with reactions ranging from allergic rhinitis to asthma symptoms.