..shinmin...man orders tiger prawns and alleged hotpot shop gives him normal prawns....says whole body very itchy after eating...

bakuten

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i also never had issues with prawns all my life until recently after covid.
nowadays sometimes will break out in hives after eating like 8-10 prawns at one go.

dunno the prawns nowadays got add what additives to make them look fresher or heavier
 

28cMostlyCloudy

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I tell my wife i am allergic to steam chicken wing. But i am ok to fried chicken wing. I am allergic to room temperature coke. But i am ok with icy cold cold coke.

She slap me :(
 

Mystyque

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Man, 48, gets face & body rashes eating regular prawns advertised as tiger prawns at Pasir Ris hotpot buffet​

The man said his allergy to normal prawns started since his 20s.

image


A 48-year-old man suffered an allergic reaction after eating at a hotpot restaurant in Pasir Ris Mall.

This was after he allegedly consumed fresh regular grey prawns advertised in the menu as tiger prawns.

He is not allergic to tiger prawns and has publicly called out the restaurant for not serving what they advertised.

prawn-allergic-reaction.jpg

via Complaint Singapore

The man, who visited the outlet on Jun. 15 to celebrate Father's Day with his family, also claimed that the restaurant said it would cover his medical fees, only to have this offer withdrawn as the establishment asked him for proof of his specific allergy, but he could not prove it.

The restaurant told Mothership that its employees took the matter very seriously and responded promptly to the incident.

It added that it refunded the buffet cost paid by the customer as an act of goodwill.

What happened​

In a post on Complaint Singapore Facebook, the man said he ate a lot of prawns as they were advertised as tiger prawns, as stated on the menu, as he was allergic to regular prawns.

Chen told Shin Min Daily News that he began experiencing an allergy in his 20s, when he would get rashes when he ate them.

His friend advised him to try tiger prawns as they were apparently farmed differently, and Chen found that he had no allergic reaction to such prawns after trying them a few times.

He also noted that he would usually get swollen lips when he ate regular prawns, but did not have that reaction on that day, so he ate more without worry.

Chen revealed that he felt his face and head gradually getting warmer after eating around 20 to 30 of the prawns at the buffet.

It was then followed by a fever and itching all over his body, with rashes appearing.

Realising something was wrong, Chen immediately asked the store manager if it was tiger prawns.

He said the manager insisted that the store must have provided tiger prawns and that the boss would not joke about his own signboard.

Chen then went to the pharmacy in the mall to buy anti-allergy medication.

When he returned, the manager suggested he see a doctor, and his symptoms eventually subsided two hours after getting an injection at the clinic.

Chen said the manager originally promised to cover the medical expenses, so he went to a nearby clinic and spent S$120.

Yet after bringing the receipt back, Chen said the manager suddenly changed his mind and asked him to prove that he was only allergic to ordinary prawns and not tiger prawns.

Chen said he was disappointed, but did not want to cause trouble, so he left the store in anger.

When he checked the menu afterwards, the menu item’s name was changed from "tiger prawn" to "fresh prawn".

555fc4b2c7bc40ba78eb1616242967b5634d6e049e782347ee21f2ab12e2065c.jpeg
Screenshot provided by reader to Shin Min Daily News

Chen added that the store manager later apologised and said he would pay for half of Chen's medical expenses, but Chen refused.

Chen said he posted his experience online in hopes of raising awareness about such allergies.

In the Facebook post, Chen said he "strongly believes this is a very unethical business" and would not encourage customers to visit "such a dishonest store".

He said the post was meant to raise awareness for those who have a unique allergy like his, adding that the matter can be "life-threatening".

The post has since sparked mixed reactions online, with many defending the restaurant and raising doubts over such an allergy being legitimate.

Some online said Chen should be responsible for knowing the difference between the two types of prawns.

In response, Chen said he did not eat prawns very often and could not tell the difference.

Chen said he wanted to warn others about such a unique allergy, as others may have more serious reactions.

Restaurant's response​

In response to Mothership's queries, the restaurant — a brand which has operated in Singapore for over seven years — said all ingredients are sourced daily from regulated suppliers.

The restaurant added it promptly contacted its food liability insurance provider and submitted the customer’s details to facilitate the claims process after the incident occurred.

The restaurant also noted it refunded the buffet charge paid by the customer as an act of goodwill, adding Chen personally returned to the outlet to acknowledge and collect the refund.

"Regrettably, after the refund was completed, the affected customer continued publicising his case across various platforms in a manner we believe to be one-sided," the restaurant said.

"While we acknowledge the complexity of individual food allergies, we are not at liberty to make any assumptions about the food that customers ordered," it remarked.

Chen retorted that the "so-called refund" was actually extra fees charged by the restaurant.

Possible to be allergic to certain types of prawns only​

A dermatologist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital told Shin Min Daily News that it is possible that a person can only be allergic to certain types of prawns, due to the subtle differences in the protein structure of the different species.

Academic research also supports such claims, where it has been demonstrated that an allergy is limited to certain crustacea members, and shrimp allergy can be species-specific.

Those with a history of allergies are recommended to carry antihistamines, epinephrine pens, and backup oral steroids, as well as avoid contact with or smelling suspicious substances.

Top image via Canva and Complaint Singapore/Facebook



Interesting, didn't know prawn allergy can be species specific :o
 

congster2

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I really understand the customer. I also have the same problem. I'm allergic to normal beef, can only eat A5 wagyu. Also when I eat abalone, 十头鲍, I feel itchy. Only 一头鲍 is ok.
 

batuchka

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not taking sides but this here
Chen said the manager originally promised to cover the medical expenses, so he went to a nearby clinic and spent S$120
if dude only decided to go to clinic solely based on this statement by the manager i think a bit err....
 

28cMostlyCloudy

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Deepseek :

Yes, it is possible to be allergic to regular prawns but not to tiger prawns, though such cases are uncommon. Here’s why:

1. **Different Allergen Profiles**
- Prawn allergies are usually triggered by specific proteins like **tropomyosin** (the most common allergen), arginine kinase, or myosin light chain.
- **Tiger prawns** (*Penaeus monodon*) and common prawns (e.g., *Litopenaeus vannamei* or *Pandalus borealis*) may have slightly different protein structures due to genetic and biological differences. If your immune system reacts to a protein present in one species but not the other, you might only be allergic to one type.

2. **Cross-Reactivity Variations**
- Most shrimp/prawn allergies are due to **cross-reactivity** (similar proteins across species), but some people react only to specific variants.
- Cooking methods, prawn diet, or habitat differences might also alter allergen exposure.

3. **Possible Misdiagnosis or Tolerance Threshold**
- You might have a **milder allergy**, reacting only to high doses of allergens in one type but not another.
- Some people are allergic to **parvalbumin** (found more in fish) but tolerate shellfish, though this is rare.

**What Should You Do?**
- **Consult an allergist** for **skin prick tests** or **IgE blood tests** specific to different prawn species.
- **Oral food challenges** (under medical supervision) can confirm tolerance to tiger prawns.
- **Avoid self-testing**, as allergies can be unpredictable and severe.

**Bottom Line**
While most prawn allergies apply broadly, individual variations exist. Confirming with an allergist is the safest approach. If you’ve eaten tiger prawns without reaction, you *might* tolerate them, but proceed with caution.
 

BigMonkey

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You can't just be allergic to one type of prawn. It's like saying you only allergic to black chicken.

its is possible, the level of histamine in different species of prawn are different. example: argentina red prawn might cause you a reaction but the crystal prawn from zichar stall might not.
 

CaptchaCheebeh

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My son also intermittently has rashes after eating certain prawns... Except we have yet to figure out which type he's sensitive to...
Same. I eat low ses prawns in SG I get rashes and inflammation on my lips. But go overseas jiak prawn no problem.

Something is wrong with the food supply in SG lmao. Won't be surprised if some of the Chinese restaurants in SG use gutter oil for cooking too.
 

Soracak

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i also never had issues with prawns all my life until recently after covid.
nowadays sometimes will break out in hives after eating like 8-10 prawns at one go.

dunno the prawns nowadays got add what additives to make them look fresher or heavier

I developed shrimp/prawn allergies in my 30s. Yes allergies can develop when u get older.

Now just avoid prawns of all types wherever possible.
 

Can Or Not

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已婚补习教师在家辅导课程时,竟站在女学生后方一边自慰一边自拍,4个月内拍逾400段视频,涉及5名学生,昨日被判坐牢4年9个月。

which edmwer? please admit....
 

coyote

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Same. I eat low ses prawns in SG I get rashes and inflammation on my lips. But go overseas jiak prawn no problem.

Something is wrong with the food supply in SG lmao. Won't be surprised if some of the Chinese restaurants in SG use gutter oil for cooking too.

Err... That's individuals body's conditions right? Nothing to do with Singapore or restaurants.
 
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