--- title: "Fish Allergen Labelling and Introduction Rules: United States" description: "Fish is one of the FDA's nine major food allergens, and US labels must name the species, such as cod or salmon, not just 'fish'." url: "https://baby-allergy-tracker.com/guides/fish/united-states/" --- [Allergen guides](/guides/) / [United States](/guides/#united-states) / Fish Allergen guide · United States # Fish in the United States: label rules and introduction guidance Sources checked September 2026. Every claim below links to the official source it comes from. **Educational note:** This guide summarises official labelling rules and published guidance. It is not medical advice. Always ask your paediatrician about your baby's specific health needs before introducing new foods or interpreting symptoms. [Read our full disclaimer](/disclaimer/). **Direct Answer:** Fish is one of the FDA's nine major food allergens, and US labels must name the species, such as cod or salmon, not just 'fish'. FDA counts jawless, bony and cartilaginous fish. CDC's general advice is to introduce potentially allergenic foods alongside other first foods; fish is not one of its named examples. ## Is fish on the FDA's list of 9 major food allergens? Under US law the species of fish must be declared, so a 'Contains' statement cannot simply say 'fish'; it has to say bass, flounder, cod or whichever species is used. For the ingredient list, FDA points manufacturers to the acceptable market names in its Seafood List, and it allows a generic name such as 'salmon' in the 'Contains' statement. FDA's Edition 5 guidance interprets fish as three groups: jawless fish such as hagfish and lampreys, bony fish such as trout, salmon, tuna and cod, and cartilaginous fish such as sharks, rays and skates. Fish is a separate major allergen from Crustacean shellfish. In the United States, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) and the FASTER Act, names nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. A packaged food has to declare each one either in parentheses after an ingredient, such as 'whey (milk)', or in a 'Contains' statement printed immediately after or next to the ingredient list. - [FDA: Food Allergies](https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-food-labeling-and-critical-foods/food-allergies) - [FDA: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens (Edition 5, January 2025)](https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-questions-and-answers-regarding-food-allergen-labeling-edition-5) ## What CDC guidance says about introducing fish CDC's first-foods page advises introducing potentially allergenic foods when you introduce other foods, and it does not list fish separately among its examples. The NIAID addendum covers peanut only. Because each species must be named on a US label, the packet tells you exactly which fish your baby has eaten, which is worth copying into a food diary. If your baby has a known food allergy or eczema, ask your paediatrician how and when to introduce fish, and which kinds to start with. US advice on first foods comes from several places. CDC's page for parents says to introduce potentially allergenic foods when you introduce other foods. For peanut specifically, an expert panel sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) published addendum guidelines in 2017. Neither replaces a conversation with your paediatrician about your own baby. - [CDC: When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods](https://www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/foods-and-drinks/when-what-and-how-to-introduce-solid-foods.html) ## Logging fish in the app Set your region to the United States and the app's allergen schedule follows the FDA's nine. In the schedule, fish appears as **Fish**. 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 the species, salmon or cod rather than 'fish', since reactions and labels are both specific. 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. Track fish from first taste to cleared Log every offering and any reaction against your baby's own timeline, then share one clear report with your paediatrician. [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1445346223?pt=117722137&ct=Blog&mt=8) [Google Play version coming soon](mailto:support@baby-allergy-tracker.com?subject=Notify%20me%20when%20the%20Android%20version%20launches) Coming soon — clicktap to get notified Free to download. Premium from US$2.99/month or US$24.99/year; prices vary by country. ![](/assets/images/app-store-qr.png) Scan with your iPhone camera to get the app. [Or open the App Store link →](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1445346223?pt=117722137&ct=Blog&mt=8) The app is iPhone only for now. [Tell me when it comes to Android](mailto:support@baby-allergy-tracker.com?subject=Notify%20me%20when%20the%20Android%20version%20launches) ## Fish in other countries - [Fish in the European Union](/guides/fish/european-union/) - [Fish in the United Kingdom](/guides/fish/united-kingdom/) - [Fish in Australia and New Zealand](/guides/fish/australia-new-zealand/) - [Fish in Canada](/guides/fish/canada/) ## Other allergens in the United States - [Peanut in the United States](/guides/peanut/united-states/) - [Tree nuts in the United States](/guides/tree-nuts/united-states/) - [Egg in the United States](/guides/egg/united-states/) - [Milk in the United States](/guides/milk/united-states/) - [Wheat in the United States](/guides/wheat/united-states/) - [Soy in the United States](/guides/soy/united-states/) - [Shellfish in the United States](/guides/shellfish/united-states/) - [Sesame in the United States](/guides/sesame/united-states/) See every region's full list side by side on [Allergen Lists by Region](/allergen-lists/).