US adds sesame allergy warnings to packaging as research spotlights unclear labeling concerns

21 Feb 2022 --- Researchers are calling for faster action on allergen labeling for sesame ingredients on food packaging, citing serious health risks for consumers who are unknowingly ingesting products that often cause severe allergic reactions.

In a study published in the medical journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, US researchers found that “severely unidentified labeling” for packaged sesame products – particularly tahini – is causing around 65% of avoidable allergic reactions. 

Sesame allergy can lead to anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure. 

“What we discovered in our study was that amongst those who reported events related to accidental ingestion of sesame, many reported they didn’t know that words such as ‘tahini’ meant sesame,” says Dr. Katie Kennedy, an allergist from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and senior author of the study. 

Since the word “sesame” is often not used on labels, accidents can happen at a greater rate, she adds. 

The dangers of inaccurate labeling 
The researchers used a questionnaire disseminated to online communities focused on sesame allergy. The questionnaire included questions on clinical characteristics, treatments, outcomes and labeling issues.

Lack of allergen labeling has led to the death of children in recent years, prompting legislative changes.A total of 360 clinical reactions related to sesame were reviewed in 327 individuals. Anaphylaxis occurred in 68.9% of reactions. Hospitalization occurred in 47.8% of events, and epinephrine (a hormone used to regulate medical functions) was administered in 36.4% of cases. 

Events involving a packaged food product occurred in 67.5% of adverse events (AE), with only 43.8% of these using the term “sesame.” An alternative name was noted in 46.0% of products that did not include “sesame” on labeling, mostly on tahini products. 

“We determined considerable sesame food allergy morbidity, in part owing to inconsistent allergen labeling. Our findings support the development of a more rapid process for the Food and Drug Administration to update the major allergen list and formulation of an improved system for reporting AEs related to foods,” the study authors conclude . 

Changing packaging laws faster
US President Biden has passed an act that makes sesame the ninth allergen that must be identified by law on labels for US food products, beginning in 2023. 

The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act will require sesame listed on food labels as an allergen, along with peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, dairy, eggs and wheat. In addition, the law will require the Department of Health and Human Services to explore and make recommendations for the detection, prevention and treatment of food allergies.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates that roughly one million Americans have sesame allergies from around 32 million who suffer from general food allergies.

Kenneth Mendez, CEO of AFFA, described the FASTER act as “Terrific progress for our food allergy community,” and that “adding sesame to the major allergen list is a much-needed change and a significant part of this legislation.”Allergic reactions to ingredients like sesame can occur within seconds of consumption.

In the UK, labeling laws were changed last year following the death of a girl who mistakenly ate a baguette containing sesame. Natasha’s Law, named after the victim, mandates full ingredient and allergen labeling on foods that are pre-packed for direct sale. The law applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland and came into effect from October 2021. 

Fighting allergies in childhood 
While the study results show that legislation like the FASTER Act could be more quickly implemented given risks posed to consumers, industry is also taking action to prevent the development of allergies in early life. 

Last year, US-based company Ready, Set, Food raised US$3.5 million in funding for its organic early allergen introduction system, which provides daily supplements to gradually introduce babies to the top nine allergens in three different stages. 

Backed by Danone and Johnson & Johnson, the initiative seeks to prevent allergen development as studies show that early introduction to allergenic foods like eggs and peanuts has been found to help prevent food allergies in specific groups of infants.

By Louis Gore-Langton