Dried seafood, fish sauce and oyster sauce: reading ingredient labels when you have a seafood allergy

Words to look out for on the ingredient list

• Oyster sauce, fish sauce, shrimp paste, seafood sauce, satay sauce
• Dried small shrimp, dried shrimp, dried scallop, fish powder, seafood extract
• Some compound seasonings, hot pot bases and instant soup mixes
• Allergen warnings such as "may contain crustacean/mollusc products"

How to check more efficiently

First read the ingredient list once to look for key words, then read the allergen warning. Different flavours and different sizes of the same brand must each be checked separately. If you cannot find the ingredients for loose or freshly made food, ask the shop directly. When eating out with sauces, it is better to choose plain seasonings than to judge by appearance.

Small habits for the home kitchen

Store your commonly used seasonings in two separate places, "can use" and "cannot use", to avoid picking up the wrong one. Keep containers and knives used for handling seafood separate. When buying a new seasoning, take a photo of the ingredient list first so you can refer to it next time you shop.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Please follow your doctor's instructions.