Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1500880
A new United States law recognizing sesame as the ninth major food allergen is having unintended consequences. Some food manufacturers and commercial bakeries that support restaurants, stock grocery shelves and supply schools are intentionally adding sesame to various products that previously did not contain it. Consequently, this decreases the number of sesame-free products available for allergic consumers and creates the risk of accidental exposure through foods they previously considered safe. Inhalation June 2023 23 Unintended consequences of new US law to protect allergic consumers from sesame allergen Number of sesame-free foods decreases while risk of accidental allergen exposure increases A new United States law recognizing sesame as a major food allergen is having unintended conse- quences. Some food manufacturers and commer- cial bakeries that support restaurants, stock grocery shelves and supply schools are intentionally adding sesame to various products that previously did not contain it. Consequently, this decreases the number of sesame-free products available for allergic consum- ers and creates the risk of accidental exposure through foods they previously considered safe. Sesame usage in food Sesame can be found in apparent places, such as seeds on hamburger buns, but is also an ingredi- ent in many foods such as dressings, sauces, protein bars, cereals and soups. It often has been used when a label says "natural flavors" or "natural spices" and was previously added to many foods without being named. ese situations have been confusing and worrisome for consumers working to avoid sesame allergen, sometimes requiring extensive phone calls to manufacturers to determine whether products contain sesame. The ninth major food allergen In 2004, to protect consumers, the US Congress passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA), identifying eight major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, Crus- tacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soy- beans. At that time, those eight allergens accounted for 90 percent of food allergies and serious allergic reactions in the US. Sesame was recognized as the ninth major food aller- gen when the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Edu- cation and Research (FASTER) Act was passed by the US Congress on April 23, 2021. e new law made all United States Food and Drug Administra- tion (FDA) requirements for major food allergens, including those for labeling and manufacturing, applicable to sesame. An effective date of January 1, 2023 gave food manufacturers, commercial bakeries and restaurants more than 18 months to comply. According to Allergic Living and Time.com, patient advocacy groups including Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the Asthma and Allergy Foun- dation of America (AAFA) and the American Acad- emy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (AAAAI) "worked for years to lobby for and help create the new legislation." is is "a huge victory for the food allergy community," said Jason Linde, FARE senior vice president of government and community affairs. FDA requirements and expectations e FDA website uses text and illustrations to show consumers that sesame is now "required to be labeled as an allergen on packaged foods, including dietary supplements." e FDA also "expects that it be specifically listed as sesame on the label it it's part of another ingredient, like 'natural flavor' or