Facts about Seafood Allergy

1. In common language, we may say shellfish. Actually this refers to two different phyla: crustaceans and mollusks.
2. Fish can be referred to two groups: cartinalagious (sharks, rays) and bony (most edible fish belong in this group).
3. The U.S. is the world's third largest consumer of fish, following China and Japan.
4. Shellfish allergy has been reported in about 1.5% of the general population, depending on the study cited.
5. In challenge studies, proteins from seafood have been detected in the blood of human patients in as little as 10 minutes after eating the food. This is consistent with what is known time frame about the onset of symptoms in patients susceptible to anaphylaxis.