FDA to Explore Mandatory Allergen Labeling for Sesame
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting information about the prevalence and severity of sesame allergies in the U.S. The details gathered will be used to then initiate possible regulations that would require sesame to be labeled as an allergen on food packaging. 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) currently acknowledges eight major food allergen categories: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans. The disclosure of these allergens on food packaging is required by the FD&C Act.
According to a statement released by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, "we're beginning to see evidence that sesame allergies may be a growing concern in the U.S. A handful of studies, for example, suggest that the prevalence of sesame allergies in the U.S. is more than 0.1 percent, on par with allergies to soy and fish.