FDA asks for input on sesame allergies and food labeling
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is issuing a request for information on the prevalence and severity of sesame allergies in the United States to inform possible regulatory action that would require sesame to be labeled as an allergen on packaged foods. Currently, sesame is not required to be disclosed as an allergen, and in some circumstances, sesame may be exempt from being listed by name in the ingredient statement on food packages.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) requires that a food containing a major food allergen declare the source of the allergen. The Act defines a major food allergen as one of the following: milk, eggs, fish (e.g., bass, flounder, or cod), crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, or shrimp), tree nuts (e.g., almonds, pecans, or walnuts), wheat, peanuts and soybeans. In addition to requiring the disclosure of these eight major food allergens, the FD&C Act gives the FDA the authority to issue regulations requiring the disclosure of spices, flavorings, colorings and incidental additives that are, or contain, allergens other than the eight major food allergens, and FDA is not restricted from requiring labeling regarding other food allergens.