Fish Allergies and general purpose smoker

fong0041 · April 05, 2012, 02:03:25 PM

Hey all, I use my charcoal grill and my Bradley for smoking/grilling many wonderful meats that my brother really enjoys. Unfortunately, he has an allergy to fish (his throat will swell up), so I'm quite nervous about smoking salmon on my bradley and/or grill since it will later be used to prepare a chicken or ribs that he will be eating. Does anyone have experience in dealing with allergy issues and contaminations from one smoking session and the next? Thanks!

Nathan

mikecorn.1 · April 05, 2012, 02:07:38 PM

I would imagine that as long as you clean the racks very well, there should not be an issue. Maybe you could get a second set of racks just for fish.
Though I could be wrong. Just a guess and suggestion.

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Ka Honu · April 05, 2012, 04:25:39 PM

Personally I'd just get a new brother.

mikecorn.1 · April 05, 2012, 04:52:49 PM

Quote from: Ka Honu on April 05, 2012, 04:25:39 PM
Personally I'd just get a new brother.

Lmao ;D

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JZ · April 05, 2012, 06:01:39 PM

QuotePersonally I'd just get a new brother.

LMAO!!!!! I think I wet myself plus I have to get another beer since the one I had in my mouth is now all over the keyboard and screen. ;D ;D ;D ;D

I would think that Mike is right and maybe just sterilize the racks with a disinfectant and wash afterwards. But if his allergy is life threatening then you better get professional advice.

If it was my brother I would tell him to get his own smoker or just feed him the fish and be done with it. But my brother and I don't get along. ::)

Smokeville · April 13, 2012, 03:21:01 PM

When was the last time your brother was tested?

I was allergic to salmon, lobster, shrimp and crab from age 18 on. Not life threatening --- I just threw up a lot. For 42 years I never ate them.

18 months ago, after smoking a lot of salmon, and continually washing my hands, etc., I got my doctor to send me to an allergist for a re-test. Turns out I was no longer allergic -- although to be absolutely sure I also paid $90 for a definitive blood test.

Sometime over those xxx years I outgrew the allergy and missed a lot of great food.

Rich

ghost9mm · April 13, 2012, 05:43:27 PM

Or you could buy another smoker and make it allergie free... :D

fong0041 · April 16, 2012, 01:00:12 PM

Thanks for all of the great feedback and ideas. My brother's condition would cause his throat to swell up, although thanks to his cautious behavior, he hasn't had an episode in 10+ years. My wife and I aren't HUGE fish eaters, I just happened to try a friend's smoke salmon and thought it would be a great addition to our frequent cocktail parties. Maybe I'll resort to a second, inexpensive smoker for fish (such as a Brinkman). However, between my beer brewing equipment and now smoking equipment, I'm quickly running out of storage space!

Salmonsmoker · April 16, 2012, 04:32:59 PM

Maybe your brother is just getting fish bones caught in his throat. :o :o

deb415611 · April 17, 2012, 04:08:54 AM

I'd say not chance it. I have shellfish and fish allergies and I can't even walk into a fish market where the air is thick with seafood smell. For shellfish (i'm not sure about salmon) the proteins floating in the air can cause a reaction.

here's something I just grabbed off an allergy site
You can have an allergic reaction to shellfish without eating it. The proteins in shellfish and other seafood that trigger food allergies and allergy symptoms can be transmitted through the air when the fish is cooked. If you are in a restaurant or in the kitchen when shellfish are being cooked, you could still have an allergic reaction. Even just handling fish or smelling the steam of cooking seafood can trigger a serious allergic reaction in people who are extremely sensitive to seafood and shellfish.

Smokeville · April 17, 2012, 10:16:10 AM

Quote from: fong0041 on April 16, 2012, 01:00:12 PM
Thanks for all of the great feedback and ideas. My brother's condition would cause his throat to swell up, although thanks to his cautious behavior, he hasn't had an episode in 10+ years. My wife and I aren't HUGE fish eaters, I just happened to try a friend's smoke salmon and thought it would be a great addition to our frequent cocktail parties. Maybe I'll resort to a second, inexpensive smoker for fish (such as a Brinkman). However, between my beer brewing equipment and now smoking equipment, I'm quickly running out of storage space!

If your brother hasn't had an episode in over 10+ year, he really should be tested. All the allergist will do is put tiny pin-pricks of the possible allergen in a grid pattern on the forearm, and watch for a reaction. When I was first tested decades ago, the salmon prick reacted so large that the welt covered over the surrounding grid. This time, there was no reaction. BTW, this was done by a medical (M.D.) specialist, not a naturopath, so theer is no chance of it being life-threatening.

Here in Canada, there was no charge due to our health coverage. But, to be sure, I did go with the doctor's advice and get the blood screening. That did cost $45 per test and I was tested for salmon and shrimp. When the doctor gave me the all clear, and I was still very nervous, he invited me to come to his office and eat some salmon there. Of course, he also was hoping I would share some with him and his staff.

Cheaper than buying a second smoker, and think of all the fish he can eat if the tests come back ok!

Rich