Shellfish in Australia and New Zealand: label rules and introduction guidance

Is shellfish on the FSANZ allergen list?

FSANZ lists crustacean and mollusc as two different required names. Its guidance on the PEAL changes says the new rules mean molluscs must be declared separately, alongside individual tree nuts and individual cereals. A seafood mix with prawns and squid would therefore say 'Contains crustacean, mollusc' in bold. This matches the EU and UK, which also treat the two groups separately, and differs from the US, where molluscs are not a major food allergen.

Standard 1.2.3 and Schedule 9 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code require allergens to be declared using set 'required names'. Under the Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) rules in force since 25 February 2024, each allergen appears in bold in the statement of ingredients and again in a bold summary statement beginning with 'Contains', placed next to the ingredients. Food labelled before that date under the old rules could stay on sale until 25 February 2026. 'May contain' statements are voluntary and not regulated by the Code.

• FSANZ: Allergen labelling for food businesses

What ASCIA guidance says about introducing shellfish

ASCIA's Recommendation 5 includes shellfish in its list of common food allergens to introduce in the first year of life, prioritising foods in the family's usual diet, and rates the evidence as very low. ASCIA's definition of common food allergens in Australia and New Zealand uses the single word shellfish rather than separating crustaceans from molluscs, even though the labels do. Once shellfish is in, Recommendation 9 says to keep offering it at least weekly unless there has been a reaction. Talk to your doctor if a family member has a seafood allergy.

ASCIA, the peak professional body of clinical immunology and allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand, published its updated Guideline: Infant Feeding for Food Allergy Prevention in 2026. It recommends starting solids when your baby shows signs of developmental readiness, usually around 6 months and not before 4 months, introducing only one new common allergen at a meal, and continuing to offer each allergen at least once a week once it is in, unless there has been an allergic reaction.

• ASCIA Guideline: Infant Feeding for Food Allergy Prevention (2026), summary of recommendations

Logging shellfish in the app

Set your region to Australia / New Zealand and the app's allergen schedule follows the FSANZ list. In the schedule, shellfish appears as Crustacean and Mollusc, two separate entries. Each allergen entry moves from not started to introduced, cleared or reaction, and the 14-day window keeps new foods spaced out so a delayed reaction is easier to match to a food. Log prawn, crab or mussel by name, because crustaceans and molluscs are different allergen groups in most countries. If you see a symptom, log it with its severity; the paediatrician report gathers the dates into one PDF for your next appointment. It is a record for you and your doctor, not a diagnosis.