Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Sardines/shrimp/crawfish : Are They Really Ever Gluten Free?

Woolygimp

Recommended Posts

Woolygimp Contributor
Woolygimp
Posted

If I'm not mistaken most fish farms use fish feed with a mix that can contain wheat derivatives, the problem is that when you eat a simple seafood you're often eating the digestive track of that organism.

Unlike eating a fillet of fish, when you consume a whole sardine, shrimp, or crawfish you're eating more than just it's meat whether you intend to or not.

Technically, isn't it a possibility for some non-digested gluten to remain in the digestive organs of these foods? Say the stomach of a sardine, or for those of you who are familiar with crawfish/shrimp: the black sand vein which AFAIK is their intestines. I'm absolutely certain crawfish farms down here use wheat to feed the crawfish, and my family is in the crawfish boiling business. I LOVE seafood but I'm not sure what to think at this point, can anyone who routinely eats this stuff share whether or not they think these foods are safe to eat?

When does gluten stop being gluten after something else ingests it?

Just to point out, this has absolutely nothing to do with fish in general as I'm sure fish meat in itself is all safe to eat. I'm more or less talking about things like sardines, in which you eat the entire fish (minus the head).

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest Happynwgal2
Guest Happynwgal2
Posted

Interesting question - I have never thought of this. I love sardines, and eat them occasionally, and they do not make me sick - I am very sensitive to gluten, and usually have some kind of reaction just minutes after eating something with gluten in it.

It will be interesting to see what others on here will answer...

If I'm not mistaken most fish farms use fish feed with a mix that can contain wheat derivatives, the problem is that when you eat a simple seafood you're often eating the digestive track of that organism.

Unlike eating a fillet of fish, when you consume a whole sardine, shrimp, or crawfish you're eating more than just it's meat whether you intend to or not.

Technically, isn't it a possibility for some non-digested gluten to remain in the digestive organs of these foods? Say the stomach of a sardine, or for those of you who are familiar with crawfish/shrimp: the black sand vein which AFAIK is their intestines. I'm absolutely certain crawfish farms down here use wheat to feed the crawfish, and my family is in the crawfish boiling business. I LOVE seafood but I'm not sure what to think at this point, can anyone who routinely eats this stuff share whether or not they think these foods are safe to eat?

When does gluten stop being gluten after something else ingests it?

Just to point out, this has absolutely nothing to do with fish in general as I'm sure fish meat in itself is all safe to eat. I'm more or less talking about things like sardines, in which you eat the entire fish (minus the head).

ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

Make sure you buy "wild caught". Farm raised fish are not very healthy anyway.

larry mac Enthusiast
larry mac
Posted

wg,

That's a pretty good question. Since you're the one that thought of it, why don't you eat some and let us know what happens?

I always de-vein my shrimp. Also, I've long thought that the farm raised shrimp are basically tasteless compared to "real" shrimp.

best regards, lm

B)

pele Rookie
pele
Posted

Hmmm

Last week I got glutened for the first time in a while. I never eat out and was eating the same old fruits/vegs/honey/chicken/eggs/nuts EXCEPT for a tin of herring that the company called gluten-free. I have never eaten this brand of fish before and cannot imagine where else the gluten could have come from. I wrote to the company (which can remain nameless for now) and received what I perceived as a very insulting reply stating that even a 7 year old could understand their labels.

So, thank you Wooly, for perhaps pointing me in the right direction here.

In the meantime. I have had zero problems with Chicken of the Sea smoked sardines, so I'll stick with them.

redgf Rookie
redgf
Posted

I eat shrimp from my local publix supermarket on a bimonthly basis, and have never been sick from them. I am really really super sensitive to gluten, I actually get sick within a few minutes of eating the stuff. I do devein my shrimp... I also eat tilapia, shark, halibut and haddock on a regular basis and none have made me sick. I do eat canned tuna but no other canned fish. I hope this helps you out!

Woolygimp Contributor
Woolygimp
Posted
  • Author
I eat shrimp from my local publix supermarket on a bimonthly basis, and have never been sick from them. I am really really super sensitive to gluten, I actually get sick within a few minutes of eating the stuff. I do devein my shrimp... I also eat tilapia, shark, halibut and haddock on a regular basis and none have made me sick. I do eat canned tuna but no other canned fish. I hope this helps you out!

Shrimp is always going to be gluten free because they are almost never farm raised.

I'm really curious about crawfish, because they are exclusively farm-raised and they ARE fed wheat.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 9 years later...
keezyfresh Apprentice
keezyfresh
Posted
On 24/06/2008 at 3:42 AM, Woolygimp said:

If I'm not mistaken most fish farms use fish feed with a mix that can contain wheat derivatives, the problem is that when you eat a simple seafood you're often eating the digestive track of that organism.

Unlike eating a fillet of fish, when you consume a whole sardine, shrimp, or crawfish you're eating more than just it's meat whether you intend to or not.

 

Technically, isn't it a possibility for some non-digested gluten to remain in the digestive organs of these foods? Say the stomach of a sardine, or for those of you who are familiar with crawfish/shrimp: the black sand vein which AFAIK is their intestines. I'm absolutely certain crawfish farms down here use wheat to feed the crawfish, and my family is in the crawfish boiling business. I LOVE seafood but I'm not sure what to think at this point, can anyone who routinely eats this stuff share whether or not they think these foods are safe to eat?

 

When does gluten stop being gluten after something else ingests it?

 

Just to point out, this has absolutely nothing to do with fish in general as I'm sure fish meat in itself is all safe to eat. I'm more or less talking about things like sardines, in which you eat the entire fish (minus the head).

I avoid farm-raised shrimp for this reason. But sardines are NEVER farm-raised, as far as I know, they are always wild-caught. So they should be definitely be safe, assuming there is no cross-contamination after they have been caught. They are actually the primary animal protein in my diet, and I am super-sensitive. They're also extremely nutritious, sustainable, and low in mercury.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted
4 minutes ago, keezyfresh said:

I avoid farm-raised shrimp for this reason. But sardines are NEVER farm-raised, as far as I know, they are always wild-caught. So they should be definitely be safe, assuming there is no cross-contamination after they have been caught. They are actually the primary animal protein in my diet, and I am super-sensitive. They're also extremely nutritious, sustainable, and low in mercury.

just an FYI - this thread is from 2008 - they might not see this or respond

keezyfresh Apprentice
keezyfresh
Posted
13 minutes ago, kareng said:

just an FYI - this thread is from 2008 - they might not see this or respond

I found this thread because i googled "canned fish super sensitive celiacs", in an attempt to find information on particularly reliable/safe brands. I just wanted to post my opinion on here in case anyone else came across it in the same way, so that they would not be discouraged from eating sardines. 

Maybe i should post in another thread or start a new one about this, but the reason I'm looking for safe brands of canned fish is because the brand I used to use and consider quite safe, crown prince, turns out to be unacceptable by my standards. It took many, many emails to them to finally get a clear answer to what i was asking, and i was actually treated quite rudely in the process. It turns out that they process/package their products in facilities where there are "co-packers" who may or may not be processing gluten products. I replaced their products in my diet with a certified gluten-free brand which i actually find inferior otherwise in quality, season, and i've had a perceived improvement in my lingering GI symptoms. 

Do you know of any canned seafood brands that use a dedicated facility, kareng? (I'll make a separate post for this if that's what you'd recommend)

  • 3 months later...
coast5 Newbie
coast5
Posted

Kay even wild caught are eating human provided food: the bait in the traps. I was just out pulling prawn traps with my folks and I almost panicked seeing what the bait looks like. Looks like dog food. Still waiting to hear back from my folks what the ingredients are-they think it's just fish and oils. But the bait was all in their stomachs. Will report, but I'm sure not all bait is created equally. Anyone know the prevalence of prawn/crab/shrimp bait containing gluten filler? I got really sick last night after eating their prawns, but it mighta been the dairy I had that bothered me.

Ennis-TX Grand Master
Ennis-TX
Posted

Yeah heard about this years ago, people were talking about the meal they feed farm crawfish containing wheat and the way their digestive tracts worked would leave gluten in their gut...that black line running down the backside your eat. and sucking on them etc. Heard farm shrimp where less likely but equally as bad. I honestly do not know, and I think it was a scare tactic. I would love to take some of the meat straight out of boiled ones fresh and see a study of them being gluten tested. Perhaps testing the water of fresh boiled ones to see if it releases gluten  from their insides when cooking if they consumed it as diet.  I do not think anyone has ever done this kind of study. I honestly have not had any in years. I stick to wild caught lump crab maybe once every other month and some wild caught salmon, I do sometimes have swai once every few months. I do not digest meats that well and only eat them in moderation....I have not had a red meat and swallowed in at least 6 months (chef I cook it, set some aside try it and spit to make sure it is right).  Tempted

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. xxnonamexx
      - xxnonamexx posted a topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      0

      Fermented foods, Kefir, Kombucha?

      I have read fermented foods like sauerkraut, pickles, Kefir, Kombucha are great for gut health besides probiotics. However I have searched and read about ones that were tested (Kefir, Kombucha) and there is no clear one that is very helpful. Has anyone take Kefir, Kombucha and noticed a difference in gut health? I read one is lactose free but when tested...
    2. SamAlvi
      - SamAlvi replied to SamAlvi's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      High TTG-IgG and Normal TTG-IgA

      Thanks again for the detailed explanation. Just to clarify, I actually did have my initial tests done while I was still consuming gluten. I stopped eating gluten only after those tests were completed, and it has now been about 70 days since I went gluten-free. I understand the limitations around diagnosing NCGS and the importance of antibody testing...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Blood tests for thiamine are unreliable. The nutrients from your food get absorbed into the bloodstream and travel around the body. So, a steak dinner can falsely raise thiamine blood levels in the following days. Besides, thiamine is utilized inside cells where stores of thiamine are impossible to measure. A better test to ask for is the Erythrocyte...
    4. lizzie42
      - lizzie42 replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Neither of them were anemic 6 months after the Celiac diagnosis. His other vitamin levels (d, B12) were never low. My daughters levels were normal after the first 6 months. Is the thiamine test just called thiamine?
    5. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to lizzie42's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      6

      Son's legs shaking

      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine. Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine. Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats. Meat, especially organ...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,877
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Ruth Margaret
    Newest Member
    Ruth Margaret
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • xxnonamexx
      Fermented foods, Kefir, Kombucha?

      By xxnonamexx · Posted

      I have read fermented foods like sauerkraut, pickles, Kefir, Kombucha are great for gut health besides probiotics. However I have searched and read about ones that were tested (Kefir, Kombucha) and there is no clear one that is very helpful. Has anyone take Kefir, Kombucha and noticed a difference in gut health? I read one is lactose free but when tested was high in lactose so I would probably try a non dairy one. Thanks
    • SamAlvi
      High TTG-IgG and Normal TTG-IgA

      By SamAlvi · Posted

      Thanks again for the detailed explanation. Just to clarify, I actually did have my initial tests done while I was still consuming gluten. I stopped eating gluten only after those tests were completed, and it has now been about 70 days since I went gluten-free. I understand the limitations around diagnosing NCGS and the importance of antibody testing and biopsy for celiac disease. Unfortunately, where I live, access to comprehensive testing (including total IgA and endoscopy with biopsy) is limited, which makes things more complicated. Your explanation about small-bowel damage, nutrient absorption, and iron-deficiency anemia still aligns closely with my history, and it’s been very helpful in understanding what may be going on. I don't wanna get Endoscopy and I can't start eating Gluten again because it's hurt really with severe diarrhea.  I appreciate you taking the time to share such detailed and informative guidance. Thank you so much for this detailed and thoughtful response. I really appreciate you pointing out the relationship between anemia and antibody patterns, and how the high DGP IgG still supports celiac disease in my case. A gluten challenge isn’t something I feel safe attempting due to how severe my reactions were, so your suggestion about genetic testing makes a lot of sense. I’ll look into whether HLA testing is available where I live and discuss it with my doctor. I also appreciate you mentioning gastrointestinal beriberi and thiamine deficiency. This isn’t something any of my doctors have discussed with me, and given my symptoms and nutritional history, it’s definitely worth raising with them. I’ll also ask about correcting deficiencies more comprehensively, including B vitamins alongside iron. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and taking the time to help. I’ll update the forum as I make progress.
    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Blood tests for thiamine are unreliable.  The nutrients from your food get absorbed into the bloodstream and travel around the body.  So, a steak dinner can falsely raise thiamine blood levels in the following days.  Besides, thiamine is utilized inside cells where stores of thiamine are impossible to measure. A better test to ask for is the Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test.  But even that test has been questioned as to accuracy.  It is expensive and takes time to do.   Because of the discrepancies with thiamine tests and urgency with correcting thiamine deficiency, the World Health Organization recommends giving thiamine for several weeks and looking for health improvement.  Thiamine is water soluble, safe and nontoxic even in high doses.   Many doctors are not given sufficient education in nutrition and deficiency symptoms, and may not be familiar with how often they occur in Celiac disease.  B12 and Vitamin D can be stored for as long as a year in the liver, so not having deficiencies in these two vitamins is not a good indicator of the status of the other seven water soluble B vitamins.  It is possible to have deficiency symptoms BEFORE there's changes in the blood levels.   Ask your doctor about Benfotiamine, a form of thiamine that is better absorbed than Thiamine Mononitrate.  Thiamine Mononitrate is used in many vitamins because it is shelf-stable, a form of thiamine that won't break down sitting around on a store shelf.  This form is difficult for the body to turn into a usable form.  Only thirty percent is absorbed in the intestine, and less is actually used.   Thiamine interacts with all of the other B vitamins, so they should all be supplemented together.  Magnesium is needed to make life sustaining enzymes with thiamine, so a magnesium supplement should be added if magnesium levels are low.   Thiamine is water soluble, safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  There's no harm in trying.
    • lizzie42
      Son's legs shaking

      By lizzie42 · Posted

      Neither of them were anemic 6 months after the Celiac diagnosis. His other vitamin levels (d, B12) were never low. My daughters levels were normal after the first 6 months. Is the thiamine test just called thiamine? 
    • knitty kitty
      Son's legs shaking

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Yes, I do think they need a Thiamine supplement at least. Especially since they eat red meat only occasionally. Most fruits and vegetables are not good sources of Thiamine.  Legumes (beans) do contain thiamine.  Fruits and veggies do have some of the other B vitamins, but thiamine B 1 and  Cobalamine B12 are mostly found in meats.  Meat, especially organ meats like liver, are the best sources of Thiamine, B12, and the six other B vitamins and important minerals like iron.   Thiamine has antibacterial and antiviral properties.  Thiamine is important to our immune systems.  We need more thiamine when we're physically ill or injured, when we're under stress emotionally, and when we exercise, especially outside in hot weather.  We need thiamine and other B vitamins like Niacin B 3 to keep our gastrointestinal tract healthy.  We can't store thiamine for very long.  We can get low in thiamine within three days.  Symptoms can appear suddenly when a high carbohydrate diet is consumed.  (Rice and beans are high in carbohydrates.)  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so symptoms can wax and wane depending on what one eats.  The earliest symptoms like fatigue and anxiety are easily contributed to other things or life events and dismissed.   Correcting nutritional deficiencies needs to be done quickly, especially in children, so their growth isn't stunted.  Nutritional deficiencies can affect intelligence.  Vitamin D deficiency can cause short stature and poor bone formation.   Is your son taking anything for the anemia?  Is the anemia caused by B12 or iron deficiency?  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.