The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has debuted a new video that provides an overview of the 2021 Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act. The FASTER Act will add sesame to the list of major food allergens effective January 1, 2023. 

The video includes basic information about the FASTER Act and helps answer frequently asked questions FDA has received from the food industry and other stakeholders. It also includes information about:

• U.S. food allergen requirements
• How major food allergens are defined
• FDA’s implementation of the FASTER Act.

Food allergies and other types of food hypersensitivities affect millions of people living in the U.S. To protect those with food allergies and other food hypersensitivities, FDA enforces laws requiring food manufacturers to specify ingredients that are major food allergens on the labels of packaged foods and beverages. FDA also enforces regulations that require food manufactures to prevent allergen cross-contact (the unintentional incorporation of a major food allergen into a food).

Clarifying food allergen requirements for the industry is part of FDA’s safety measures to help protect consumers from ingredients and foods they may be allergic to, without overly restricting food choices.