Sesame Allergen Labels: Now a Major Allergen in the US
Sesame became the ninth major food allergen in the United States on January 1, 2023, under the FASTER Act. This means food manufacturers must now declare sesame in plain language on labels — a significant change for the estimated 1.6 million Americans with sesame allergy. Here is what changed, what it means for label reading, and where sesame hides in packaged food.
The FASTER Act: Sesame as the 9th Major Allergen
The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act was signed into law in April 2021 and took effect on January 1, 2023. It added sesame to the list of major food allergens in the US, joining milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. Food manufacturers were required to update their labels to declare sesame in plain language — either in the ingredient list or in a 'Contains: Sesame' statement.
Sesame Names on Food Labels
Sesame can appear under many names: sesame, sesame seeds, sesame oil, sesame flour, sesame paste, tahini, til, gingelly, benne, benne seed, gingelly oil, til oil, sesame seed oil, sesame extract, sesame salt (gomasio), sesame butter, sesame meal, sesame powder, and sesame protein. In some products, sesame may be listed as 'natural flavors' or 'spices' — though the FASTER Act requires explicit declaration, some products may still use these terms for sesame-derived flavorings.
Unexpected Foods That Often Contain Sesame
Sesame is common in: hummus (tahini), falafel, bagels and bread (sesame seeds on top or in dough), hamburger buns, crackers and breadsticks, Asian foods (sesame oil, sesame seeds), Middle Eastern foods (tahini, halva, baba ganoush), some salad dressings and marinades, granola and energy bars, some cereals, sushi (sesame seeds), tempeh (may contain sesame), some protein bars, and some cosmetics and personal care products (sesame oil).
Sesame Labeling in the EU
In the EU, sesame seeds are one of the 14 major allergens and have been required to be declared on food labels since 2005 under EU Directive 2003/89/EC. Sesame must be highlighted (bold, italic, or underlined) wherever it appears in the ingredient list. This includes sesame oil, tahini, and any other sesame-derived ingredient.
Cross-Contamination and Precautionary Labeling
One unintended consequence of the FASTER Act has been an increase in precautionary 'may contain sesame' labels. Some manufacturers, rather than reformulating to remove sesame cross-contamination, began intentionally adding sesame to products so they could declare it explicitly — which paradoxically reduced the number of sesame-free options available to people with sesame allergy. This practice has been criticized by allergy advocacy groups. Always check the full ingredient list and contact manufacturers if you are unsure.
How Severe Is Sesame Allergy?
Sesame allergy can cause reactions ranging from mild hives to anaphylaxis. It is one of the allergens least likely to be outgrown — studies suggest that only about 20–30% of children with sesame allergy outgrow it, compared to higher rates for milk and egg allergy. People with sesame allergy should carry epinephrine auto-injectors and have an emergency action plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When did sesame become a major allergen in the US?
- Sesame became the 9th major food allergen in the US on January 1, 2023, under the FASTER Act of 2021. Food manufacturers were required to declare sesame in plain language on labels from that date.
- Is tahini the same as sesame?
- Yes. Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds and is a major source of sesame in the diet. It must be declared as a sesame allergen on US and EU food labels.
- Why did some products add sesame after the FASTER Act?
- Some manufacturers added sesame intentionally to products that had sesame cross-contamination, so they could declare it explicitly rather than use a precautionary 'may contain' label. This reduced the number of sesame-free options available to people with sesame allergy.
- How can I quickly check a product for sesame?
- BioBrief lets you scan any product barcode or photograph the ingredients list. It flags sesame-containing ingredients automatically, including tahini, sesame oil, and sesame-derived flavorings.