I'd go back and ask about specific ingredients. If he clearly says that there's no fish or shrimp sauce in it, I'd say you can probably believe him. Ask him what he's substituted it with. I can well imagine it smelling 'fishy' even without fish sauce--it is fermented, after all.
I'd go back and ask about specific ingredients. If he clearly says that there's no fish or shrimp sauce in it, I'd say you can probably believe him. Ask him what he's substituted it with. I can well imagine it smelling 'fishy' even without fish sauce--it is fermented, after all.