We often receive questions regarding sesame labeling. Sesame is not considered an allergen under current FALCPA regulations and so is often hidden as “natural flavoring” on the ingredient label.
Considering how lax US label disclosures of the FDA’s “Top 8” allergens can be, those with sesame allergies have a much harder time finding foods that are safe for their dietary restrictions. And if feedback from our blog is any indication, the incidence of sesame allergy is skyrocketing.
Lobbying congress to modernize food labeling regulations is a long, involved process. Homa Woodrum, attorney, blogger, co-founder of the Food Allergy Bloggers Conference, and mom to a daughter with numerous food allergies, wrote about her recent excursion to Washington DC as part of the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s campaign to require manufacturers to label for sesame as they do for the Top-8 allergens.
Her posting provides a wonderful day-in-the-life recount of an advocate fighting the good fight for changes to benefit the allergic community. If you ever wondered how the process works or considered joining the efforts currently underway to promote a more comprehensive allergen labeling regime, Homa’s article is well worth the read.
Allergence, our product screening service, shows you how 11 allergens are processed during the manufacture of each product (peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, gluten, sesame and mustard) as well as industry recognized certifications (kosher, organic, gluten free and non-GMO), ingredient lists, suitability advisories, store finders… all the information you wish was on the label!
I so appreciate your kind words and the spotlight on this important issue! Disclosure is so important and sesame would be a great inroad!
Thank you, Ms. Woodrum, for all your efforts in advocating for the inclusion of SESAME as a major allergen for labeling purposes! Although our daughter has multiple food allergies including nuts and egg, our accidental exposures (at restaurants and through lack of disclosure on labeling) have been mainly due to sesame. It is the most difficult allergen to avoid, and that is probably due to the fact that it is not included in FALCPA as one of the major allergens.