About Crustacean Allergies

What Is a Crustacean Allergy?

You may hear people talk about having a “seafood” allergy or a “shellfish” allergy, but they don’t mean the same thing. Here’s the difference:

• Seafood includes both fish (like tuna or cod) and shellfish (like lobster or clams). Even though they both fall into the category of “seafood,” fish and shellfish are biologically different. So fish will not cause an allergic reaction in someone who has a shellfish allergy — unless that person also has a fish allergy.
• Shellfish fall into two different groups: crustaceans (like shrimp, crab, or lobster) and mollusks (like clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, octopus, or squid). Some people with shellfish allergies are allergic to both groups, but some might be allergic only to one.

People may outgrow some food allergies over time, but those with shellfish allergies usually have the allergy for the rest of their lives. Shellfish allergy can appear at any age. Even people who have eaten shellfish in the past can develop an allergy to it.

Symptoms of crustacean shellfish allergy range from mild local reactions in the oral cavity (oral allergy syndrome) to severe life threatening systemic reactions. Occasionally gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms occur. Occupational exposure to crustacean shellfish aerosols during processing and food preparation can be associated with rhinitis and conjunctivitis.

Gerbs Roasted and/or seasoned lines are Made, Packaged, Processed, and Shipped in our facility in the historic PK Foundry building in Johnston, Rhode Island. We do not use any cooking oils, thus everything is dry roasted at low temperatures to lock in the natural vitamins, minerals, & omega fatty acids, because we feel baking in a pool of oil is just as unhealthy as frying! We maybe a small business located in the smallest state, but we THINK BIG – Gerbs is unique compared to any of our competition, in that we handle all aspects of operation – from purchasing, production, storage, and distribution/shipping on our 100% dedicated packaging equipment by our specially trained and caring staff.