Sesame allergies are common. The FDA has officially added sesame to the food allergy list on January 1, 2023. This will make it easier for people who are allergic to sesame to avoid foods where sesame is included as a spice or flavor. With the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research Act, or FASTER Act, food labels are clear. They now reflect accurately whether or not a certain food contains sesame. This helps consumers to avoid sesame, if they are allergic to it. Inadvertent anaphylactic reactions can be avoided with the stringent labeling requirements of the FDA.
Avoid eating in restaurants where sesame product likely are in use
If you have an allergy to sesame, it is important to avoid eating in Middle Eastern, vegan and Japanese restaurants. Chefs in these restaurants are more likely to include different forms of sesame seeds in their dishes. It is also essential that persons with food allergies mention their condition to the server in a restaurant before they place an order, so exposure to allergens can be avoided.
Starting January 1, 2023, the FDA added sesame to the food allergy list. There are major food allergies that have always been problems to a significant part of the population. Milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans have been on the allergy list for several years. However, the FDA noticed that doctors observed serious allergic reactions after the consumption of sesame seeds. Those who are allergic to sesame develop drops in blood pressure, coughing, itchy throat, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth rash, shortness of breath and wheezing. The most serious form of allergy is an anaphylactic shock where the whole body reacts to a food allergen. This can develop within just minutes of ingesting a trigger food to which the affected person is allergic to.
The FAST act
On January 1, 2023 the FDA passed the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research Act, or FASTER Act into law. This ensures that sesame seeds are now also part of the allergic food list. This ensures that foods that contain sesame have a clear label stating so. In the past a company could grind up sesame seeds and include them as a “natural spice or flavor”. Now due to stringent FDA rules the manufacturer ensures that in the production process there are no sesame seeds in the product. There is also a clear labeling process of the product. It takes about 3 to 4 months for the removal of all of the old food containers from your local grocery store. The new produce replaces the ones labeled the old way, which complies with the new FASTER Act.
Meaning of the FASTER act for people with sesame food allergies
There are about 1.6 million people in the US who have life threatening sesame allergies. Before the change in legislation food manufacturers could add sesame as a flavor or as a spice blend without labelling it as sesame. But now even if food only contains traces of sesame it is the law that the label reveals this. It makes it much easier for people with sesame allergies to avoid these kinds of foods.
Precautions regarding foods that may contain sesame seeds
One common way to get an allergic reaction to sesame seeds is by dining in Middle Eastern, vegan and Japanese restaurants. Chefs in these restaurants are more likely to include different forms of sesame seeds in their dishes. Those who know that they are allergic to sesame seeds should see an allergist to determine how serious the allergy is. They should also ask what to do in the case an emergency treatment. Adrenalin injections are usually more effective than diphenhydramine, which will suffice for milder allergies. It can be life-saving for people with allergies to carry an Epi-Pen.
FDA Added Sesame to the Food Allergy List
Conclusion
Sesame allergies are common. The FDA has officially added sesame to the food allergy list on January 1, 2023. This will make it easier for people who are allergic to sesame to avoid foods where sesame is included as a spice or flavor. With the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research Act, or FASTER Act, food labels are clear. They now reflect accurately whether or not a certain is in a food. This helps consumers to avoid sesame, if they are allergic to it. Inadvertent anaphylactic reactions can be avoided with the stringent labeling requirements of the FDA.
Avoid restaurants where the likelihood is high that the cook uses sesame seeds
If you have an allergy to sesame, it is important to avoid eating in Middle Eastern, vegan and Japanese restaurants. Chefs in these restaurants are more likely to include different forms of sesame seeds in their dishes. Stringent labeling according to the new guidelines by the FDA prevent anaphylactic reactions in the patrons of the establishment. It is also essential that persons with food allergies mention their condition to the server in a restaurant before they place an order. This avoids exposure to allergens.
