The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added sesame to the list of foods that must be labeled as allergens on packaged products.
In announcing the sesame labeling rule, the FDA also cautioned people who are allergic to that ingredient that it could be a while before they notice the change. The new rule went into effect on Jan. 1.
“The law establishing this sesame labeling does not require food products that were already on their way to the store or in stock before 2023 to list sesame as an allergen on the label,” the FDA noted. “Therefore, these food products do not need to be removed from the marketplace or relabeled to declare sesame as an allergen.”
Sesame became the ninth major food allergen addressed by the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research Act passed in 2021. The other eight were defined through a federal law passed in 2004. They include milk, shellfish, fish, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, and soy.
The FDA also alerted consumers that because some food products have a long shelf life, “it’s hard to say when pre-2023 stock will be replaced with food products carrying the required labels. So, proceed with caution during this transition period.”