Allergy diet - shellfish free

Aim

To provide a diet that excludes shellfish (crustaceans and molluscs) and products containing those foods. Patients on this diet can eat white fish, sardines, anchovies, tuna and salmon.

Characteristics

No prawns, shrimp, crab, lobster, crayfish, yabbies, oysters, scallops, mussels, squid, calamari, clams, or products containing these foods e.g. shrimp paste.

Indications

Allergy to shellfish (crustaceans).

Nutritional adequacy

Nutritionally adequate.

Precautions

It is not possible to provide a full list of all permitted commercial products; the following are general guidelines only. Care should be taken to read all product ingredient lists to look for ingredients derived from shellfish or crustaceans. Some of these ingredients may not be obvious e.g. shrimp paste in a curry sauce.

All packaged food with crustaceans ingredients must carry a mandatory warning statement under Standard 1.2.3 of the Food Standards Code; these ingredients should therefore be identified on food labels. Particular care is needed in food handling and preparation to avoid cross-contamination.

Note - Some fish stocks and fish sauces may also contain shellfish.

Paediatrics

Suitable for use in paediatrics when combined with an age-appropriate diet.

Specific menu planning guidelines

	Allowed	Not allowed
Hot main dishes	All plain cooked meat, poultry, fish and eggs	Dishes containing shellfish or shellfish derivatives (e.g. shrimp paste) as listed above in characteristics
Sauces, gravies	All others	Sauces or gravies containing shellfish or shellfish derivatives (e.g. shrimp paste) as listed above in characteristics
Starchy vegetables / pasta / rice	All others	Dishes containing shellfish or shellfish derivatives (e.g. shrimp paste) as listed above in characteristics
Vegetables	All	-
Soups	All others	Soups containing shellfish or shellfish derivatives as listed above in characteristics e.g. fish stock, oyster sauce, shrimp paste, etc.
Sandwiches	All others	Sandwiches containing shellfish or shellfish derivatives as listed above in characteristics
Salads, dressings	Others	Salads and dressings containing shellfish or shellfish derivatives as listed above in characteristics
Breads, cereals	All	-
Spreads	All others	Shrimp and other pastes made from shellfish and shellfish derivatives
Hot breakfast choices	All others	Products containing shellfish and shellfish derivatives
Fruit	All	-
Yoghurt	All	-
Desserts	All	-
Milk and cheese	All others	-
Beverages	All	-
Biscuits	All	-
Miscellaneous	Salt, pepper, sugar, sweetener, cream, nuts	-

References

1. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. Information for patients, consumers and carers [accessed 27th April 2015].
2. Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Standard 1.2.3 - Mandatory Warning and Advisory Statements and Declarations - F2011C00610.