Sesame Allergen | One of the U.S Big Nine Allergens

Sesame allergies have become an increasing concern for many countries, with some experts believing they have become significantly more common in the past 20 years. In the U.S., Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) states that approximately 0.23% of children and adults in the country are allergic to the food, and the FDA believes it is prevalent enough to be considered one of the top nine allergens.

Major allergens are subjected to strict allergen labeling requirements that every business must know to keep themselves and consumers safe. This article will cover everything you need to know about sesame allergies, relevant food laws, and the consequences of undeclared allergens.

What is a Sesame Allergy?

Like other food allergens, Sesame is caused by an immune system response to proteins found in the food. These are mistakenly identified as a harmful foreign substance known as an antigen. In response, it releases a protein known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) that is meant to protect it—these are known as antibodies. This results in a chemical called histamine being released, which is the cause of typical allergy symptoms.

While not an exhaustive list of symptoms, they may include:

Hives or rashes
Swelling, particularly around the face or throat
Itchy throat or mouth
Vomiting and diarrhea

In severe cases, anaphylaxis may occur, which is potentially life-threatening due to the breathing difficulties that can manifest. There is no way to predict the severity of an allergic reaction, meaning that every instance of an undeclared allergen has the potential to lead to the death of a consumer.

More information about allergic reactions and anaphylaxis can be found on the Mayo Clinic website.

The Dangers of Sesame Oil and Cross-Reactivity

Many people allergic to sesame will also likely have a sesame oil allergy. Some oils, like peanut oil and soya oil, are typically refined, meaning that the oil goes through a processing method that significantly reduces the amount of allergenic proteins present. As a result, it’s believed that those with specific food allergies can eat refined oils using these foods.

Many individuals with a sesame allergy are also likely to react to sesame oil. Unlike refined oils, such as peanut or soya oil, which undergo processing to remove most allergenic proteins, sesame oil is often used in its unrefined form. This means it retains allergenic proteins, so people with a sesame allergy should avoid consuming it

Those with a sesame allergy should also exercise caution when considering eating tree nuts or peanuts. As these foods share a similar biochemical structure, it’s possible to be allergic to all three types of food, as the immune system may treat them the same—this is known as cross-reactivity.

The dangers of cross-reactivity and sesame oil’s allergenic properties mean that businesses must be especially careful of the risk of cross-contamination, specifically cross-contact, in which allergens are unintentionally transferred from one food to another.

Is Sesame a Major Allergen?

The first eight major allergens, alongside food labeling requirements, were identified in the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) in 2004:

Crustacean shellfish
Wheat
Soybean
Fish, referring to finned fish
Milk, referring to domesticated cows’ milk
Tree nut
Egg, referring to chicken eggs
Peanut

All packaged food and dietary supplements containing these allergens must clearly state their presence on the food packaging while identifying the source name of the food. This can be done by listing the specific fish in parentheses following the ingredient (e.g., “anchovy (fish)”) or by using a “Contains” statement such as “Contains fish” immediately after or next to the ingredients list.

Sesame was introduced as the ninth allergen later through the Food Allergy Safety Treatment Education and Research Act (FASTER), enacted in January 2023. This requires sesame to be clearly identified in allergen food labels on packaged food and dietary supplements and displayed like the other eight major allergens.

With the introduction of sesame as one of the big nine allergens, some food manufacturers have needed help correctly identifying and labeling the ingredients in their products due to cross-contact and other allergen detection errors. To remedy this, there has been a trend of intentionally adding sesame to all products and food labels so the allergen never goes undeclared.

This ensures that manufacturers comply with the FASTER Act but also makes it incredibly difficult for those with a sesame allergy to find safe products. While FALCPA labeling and FASTER labeling legislation are meant to help consumers make informed choices, this malicious compliance has, ironically, minimal options for those with food hypersensitivities.

This may seem like an easy fix to circumvent food safety legislation. Still, ethical concerns can negatively impact a business’s reputation, especially since the FDA has mentioned and criticized specific manufacturers for participating in this activity.

A quick note on Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PALs):

PALs are mentioned in regulatory contexts and could be included to explain allergen risk communication.

How Undeclared Allergens can result in Food Recalls

If any of the Big Nine allergens aren’t correctly declared in allergen labels, the FDA will issue a voluntary recall following guidance supplied by 21 CFR 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

If the business fails to undergo a voluntary recall, the FDA is granted the power to issue a mandatory recall under Section 423 of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by Section 206 of the Food Safety Modernization Act on January 4th, 2011. Undeclared major allergens are one of many reasons why food recalls occur, and more information about overall food recalls can be found on our dedicated page and the FDA website.

The impact of food recalls can be devastating for businesses, easily costing over a million dollars in many cases. When a food recall occurs, the operation must contact parties across the supply chain to ensure all affected products are recalled from supermarkets, warehouses, and consumers. In addition to being costly, time may be taken away from critical tasks as staff are focused on PR activities to reduce reputational damage.

A Harris Interactive poll has shown that 55% of consumers indicated they would temporarily switch brands following a product recall, 15% would avoid the recalled product, and 21% would never purchase any brand made by the manufacturer.

With the growing prevalence of sesame allergies and its inclusion as a major allergen under U.S. law, food manufacturers and retailers must prioritize allergen management. Look at our dedicated food recall page and the US Nine Major Allergens Hub for more information on the Big 9 Allergens and relevant food safety legislation.

For businesses looking to avoid undeclared allergens and reduce the risk of recalls, contact us to learn how LiberEat’s food safety technology can support you.

LiberEat Allergen Detection Software

LiberEat’s food safety software helps prevent errors in allergen data on supplier specifications, website and app data, food packaging, and menus. This can help protect your customers from the major allergens—find out more about these with our allergen information hub.

Correctly managing and reviewing your allergen data is essential for keeping you and your customers safe.

Errors in allergen data can cause potentially devastating allergic reactions and expensive product recalls. Give yourself peace of mind, and contact us to learn more about how LiberEat can help protect your business.