We’ve all laughed at those over-the-top scenes in movies. If a guy eats bad seafood on a date, all of his chances of falling in love and his pride are lost. Whether it was lobster food poisoning, a shellfish allergy, or bad sushi, it’s always the ultimate buzzkill.
We love lobster tacos and bacon-wrapped scallops at LobsterAnywhere because they are both sea food, which we love. But there is a bad side to all that beautiful, fresh seafood: it can make you sick or cause a shellfish allergy.
Even though it’s fun to talk about lobster in butter and scallops that have been seared just right, it’s important to know what seafood poisoning is and how to avoid it.
Food poisoning from seafood is mostly caused by other types of bivalves and finfish, but it’s still important to know the warning signs and symptoms. In addition, it’s also important to know what to look for when it comes to shellfish allergies. With LobsterAnywhere, you will discover all the possible reasons why you’ve gotten sick after eating lobster. Let’s dive into the LOBSTER world and find some answers.
Not every case of getting sick from lobster is caused from food poisoning. While there are a few similar symptoms, there are also symptoms unique to having a shellfish allergy. We know what you’re thinking. You have spent most of your life enjoying summer with lobster rolls and surf and turf feasts and no one has ever said anything to you about it.
According to research however, approximately 2% of people in the US reported being allergic to shellfish. People with shellfish allergies are affected by all types of shellfish, such as crabs, lobsters, prawns, etc.
There are also times when you may not have any symptoms for a long time and then later in life develop an allergy. In fact, shellfish allergies are the number one most common food allergy in adults. Here are some common symptoms to look for.
There are two types of shellfish; crustaceans and mollusks. As crustaceans, they include lobsters, shrimp, prawns, crabs, and mussels. As mollusks, they include clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, octopus, squid, abalone, and snails. Crustacean allergies are more common in some people than others.
Can Eating Lobster Really Turn Your Poop Red?
Lobster is a delicious crustacean that many people love to indulge in. However some lobster eaters have noticed an unusual side effect after their lobster dinner – their poop turned red! This surprising phenomenon has many wondering – can eating lobster really make your poop turn red?
The short answer is yes, consuming lobster can sometimes cause temporary red-colored stools. However, lobster itself does not directly cause this change in poop color. Rather, it is eating certain parts of the lobster that are not meant for consumption that leads to the reddish poop.
Keep reading to learn why lobster can make poop red what causes poop color changes in general, which parts of lobster cause red poop and when you should see a doctor about red stools.
What Causes Red Poop?
Red or blood-tinged stools are often caused by factors like:
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Foods – Beets, tomatoes, red gelatin, and red drinks can color poop red.
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Medications – Iron supplements or bismuth subsalicylate products like Pepto Bismol.
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Anal fissures – Small tears in the anus lining that cause bleeding.
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Hemorrhoids – Swollen, inflamed veins in the rectum that can bleed.
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Colon polyps or cancer – Benign or cancerous growths that erode and bleed.
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Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease – Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.
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Infections – Gastroenteritis, food poisoning, or parasites.
Red poop is usually harmless if caused by food dyes or temporary irritants like diarrhea. But recurrent red stools or those accompanied by other symptoms warrant medical evaluation to identify and treat the underlying cause.
Why Does Lobster Make Poop Red?
It’s not the lobster meat itself that leads to red poop. The culprits are actually two parts found inside the lobster that should not be consumed:
- Tomalley
The tomalley, or lobster’s liver and pancreas, is a soft green substance found along the body of the lobster. It can contain toxins and bacteria that may cause digestive upset.
- Intestinal vein
A dark vein runs along the tail and may contain parasites or hazardous marine bacteria. Consuming it risks vomiting and diarrhea.
When people eat these lobster parts, the resulting diarrhea and gastrointestinal inflammation can lead to red-tinged feces. The irritation likely causes some bleeding as waste passes through.
Other Foods That Can Cause Red Poop
Aside from lobster, several other foods are known to potentially make poop appear red or reddish-orange:
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Beets – Contain betalains pigments that can color stools red.
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Tomato sauce – Lycopene pigment in tomatoes may tint poop red.
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Paprika – The red pepper powder contains carotenoids.
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Red gelatin – Artificial food dyes like Red 40 dissolve and color stools.
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Strawberries – Contain anthocyanins that act as red food coloring.
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Raspberries – Rich in red anthocyanin pigments.
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Kidney beans – Undercooked beans contain lectin that causes diarrhea.
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Excess iron – Iron supplements taken on an empty stomach can cause blackish-red poop.
In most cases, the reddish color is harmless and temporary. But if it persists beyond a couple bowel movements, see your doctor.
When To Worry About Red Poop
While red poop from foods like lobster parts, beets, or tomato sauce is not concerning, some situations do warrant medical evaluation:
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Blood is maroon/dark red, or stools are black and tarry – Indicates bleeding in upper GI tract like stomach or small intestine.
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Bright red blood coats or is mixed in stool – Suggests bleeding close to the anus such as hemorrhoids or anal fissures.
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Blood persists beyond a day or two after removing suspected red food culprits.
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Additional symptoms like abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, weakness, or rectal pain.
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History of hemorrhoids, polyps, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, or colon cancer.
Red stool with no other symptoms in an otherwise healthy individual is likely harmless. But recurrent or persistent red poop not clearly linked to diet requires medical workup. Call your doctor to discuss your symptoms and determine if testing is needed.
Can You Eat Lobster Tomalley?
It’s generally advised to avoid eating the green lobster tomalley. The liver and pancreas can accumulate toxins like PCBs or marine bacteria like Vibrio which can cause foodborne illness if consumed. Stick to the lobster meat and avoid the unappetizing green gunk in the body cavity.
Safe Lobster Consumption Tips
You can safely enjoy lobster meat without turning your poop red by following these preparation and consumption tips:
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Remove and discard tomalley and intestinal vein while prepping.
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Ensure thorough cooking until lobster meat is opaque white.
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Eat only the tail, claws, and knuckle meat.
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Avoid shells/legs which may harbor bacteria.
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Refrigerate leftovers promptly and reheat fully before re-eating.
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Cook lobster thoroughly if immunocompromised.
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When dining out, ask that tomalley be removed before cooking.
The Bottom Line
Can lobster make your poop red? Yes, but only if you eat the tomalley and intestinal vein which can cause digestive upset. Enjoy the delicious claws, tail, and knuckle meat safely by removing those inedible parts. Seek medical care promptly if you experience persistent or severe red stools not clearly linked to a specific food source. With sound preparation and cooking, you can savor succulent lobster meat without the shocking red poop side effect.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Shellfish Allergies
Shellfish allergies can cause a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis. It can happen within seconds to minutes of consuming shellfish such as lobster. Because the body is reacting to the allergen, the immune system sends out a flood of chemicals that can put you into shock. If you or someone you know has any of these reactions after eating lobster or any other shellfish, you should see a doctor right away.
- Restricted airway or trouble breathing
- Sudden drop of blood pressure or shock
- Severe skin rash, hives, or itching
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
Even if your reaction isn’t too bad, you should still see an allergist or other medical professional if you think you might be allergic to shellfish.
Types of Shellfish Poisoning
The term food poisoning, lobster food poisoning, and shellfish poisoning are a broad, blanket term. Most of the time, cooking fresh seafood the right way will keep you from getting sick from eating it. But there are times when cooking the seafood the right way won’t stop foodborne illness.
- To get ciguatera, you have to eat fish that has been tainted with toxins from tiny algae blooms in the warm water around coral reefs. The ciguatera can build up in reef fish that eat other fish. Barracuda, moray eels, red snapper, sturgeon, grouper, amberjack, parrot fish, and sea bass are some fish that you should stay away from when these algae blooms happen. The symptoms might only last a few days, but they can last for months or even years. If you think you have ciguatera, you should see a doctor right away. Here is a list of some of the symptoms. Some less common symptoms are itching, tooth pain, sensitivity to hot and cold, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
- Scombroid—Eating fish that hasn’t been properly chilled after it was caught can cause scombroid. It’s one of the most common ways that fish get sick. Tuna, mahi-mahi, anchovies, marlin, sardines, herring, bluefish, amberjack, and herring are the fish that get scombroid the most. The symptoms usually show up within minutes to an hour of eating the contaminated fish and can be like having an allergic reaction. Antihistamines can help with the symptoms, but most cases go away on their own in 12 to 48 hours without treatment. Here are the symptoms to look for. Flushing of the faceHeadacheHeart palpitationsItchingBlurred visionCrampsDiarrhea.
DON’T EAT LOBSTER POOP | How To Clean Lobster
FAQ
What foods make stool red?
What are the symptoms of eating bad lobster?
Can shellfish cause blood in stool?
Why is my poop bright red?
Can food cause red poop?
Some of the foods that can cause red poop include: If your stool is discolored from a food’s natural color or an artificial dye, you probably won’t have any other symptoms that could suggest a GI problem, like abdominal pain or fever.
Can red food change poop color?
So if your diet includes large amounts of red foods, and that red pigment isn’t broken down all the way, that can change the color of poop.
Can red food cause bloody stools?
While certain foods and drinks can irritate your digestive tract lining and cause bloody stools, per Johns Hopkins, other red foods can create the illusion of bloody stool without any actual blood. Read below to learn more about possible causes. What Foods Cause Red Stool?
What food shows red in bowel movements?
Undigested Food that Can Show As Red in Bowel Movements • Beets, paprika and more. Telling the Difference: Undigested Red Food vs. Blood Seeing what you think might be blood in your stools is scary sh*t. After all, any pamphlet on colon cancer will list blood in bowel movements as a potential sign.