French speakers I have a question: I am making allergy cards to be safe. I eat fish which is poisson, but the transylations I am finding for shellfish seem to be fruits de mer which seems to sometimes include fish, or coquillage or crustace. Which would I want to use on my card to be safe? I have had reactions to shrimp and crab so have been avoiding anything with a shell for years. Thanks so much!
Posted by
UK (London - Chelsea Harbour)
505 posts
Well, crab is le crabe and lobster is le homard… but if you aren’t sure exactly what you are allergic to, wouldn’t it be safer to use a blanket term?
For all seafood, les fruits de mer is correct.
EDIT: if you want to be super specific and careful, say “toutes les fruits de mer” to specify that you are allergic to ALL of those shelled things…
langoustines, crabs, oysters, mollusks, and all the rest of it.
Posted by
Seattle, WA & Bordeaux, France
610 posts
I have a shellfish allergy (and speak French) and always tell them: "J'ai une allergie aux crustacés." On occassion, I have to explain that this means ALL shellfish but normally this one phrase is sufficiant.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
6486 posts
Are you allergic to crustaceans, mollusks, or both?
Posted by
France Southwest - Occitanie
3583 posts
I am finding for shellfish seem to be fruits de mer
Exactly. The most common French term for shellfish is "fruits de mer" (seafood).
This broadly includes any marine animal with a shell, "Coquillage" in french (oysters, periwinkles, whelks, clams, etc.) as well as crustaceans (shrimp, langoustines, lobster, crabs etc ).
In culinary terms, fish are not considered seafood. So, based on what you're saying, "fruits de mer" is the appropriate term to describe your allergy in French.
Here's an example served as a "plateau de fruits de mer"
Posted by
OP
34 posts
Thanks! I just wanted to make sure if use fruits de mer they would not think fish was a problem, and want to make sure there is no sauce that could included shellfish. I really do not know about mollusks as they are not something I would choose to eat! Also, how are chefs in France if one asks for simple grilled or baked fish? I did this in Scotland and it was fine(the only country I have been to outside of USA--I do this often here)