In 2013, Japanese traditional cuisine (Washoku) is an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity designation. One character of Japanese foods is using raw fish in cooking. With washoku becoming more popular around the world, the number of people consuming raw fish is increasing. Anisakis simplex (AS) parasite in sea creature and AS allergy is one potential causing urticaria, angioedema and itching. A traditional Japanese proverb says, “Eating blue or shiny fish sometimes may cause itching”. This meaning may be related with Anisakis simplex (AS) allergy. The custom of consuming raw fish is common in Japan and Spain, since some gastric anisakiasis and other anisakis-related diseases were reported in these countries. Since the 1980s, many cases of allergic reactions by anisakis and the results of specific IgE to anisakis have been reported.
Author(s): Keiji Sugiura