Since sesame became the ninth major food allergen under the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act, food manufacturers have attempted to circumvent the requirements for preventing allergen cross-contamination by intentionally adding sesame to their products and declaring its presence on their labels. To address this trend, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated its Guidance for Industry: Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Foodto include a new chapter on food allergens that helps food facilities avoid allergen cross-contact and ensure proper labeling.
The FASTER Act, which became effective on January 1, 2023, requires sesame, when present in food, to be disclosed on food labels. Businesses are expected to implement controls to significantly minimize or prevent sesame allergen cross-contact. Although the FASTER Act was intended to make food safer for those who experience an allergic reaction to sesame, some manufacturers are intentionally adding sesame to products that previously did not contain sesame and are labeling the products to indicate its presence, rather than take appropriate measures to minimize or prevent cross-contact. Although this behavior keeps manufacturers in compliance with the law for disclosing the presence of a major food allergen, FDA has denounced the practice as it limits options for consumers who are allergic to sesame.