Sesame Becomes Ninth Major Food Allergen

Apr. 28 2021

The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021 has been signed into law, making sesame the newest major allergen required on food and dietary supplement labels in the United States.

On April 23, 2021, the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021 was signed by President Biden. The Act adds sesame to the list of major food allergens where, starting January 1, 2023, any food or dietary supplement containing sesame or sesame-containing ingredients sold in the United States shall include allergen labeling.

The FASTER Act also requires the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary to issue a report to congress within 18 months relating to food allergy activities including development of diagnosis methods, prevention of food allergies, reduction of food allergy risks, and development of new therapeutics. The Act also requires the report to include recommendations on how to improve those activities and the collection of food allergen data.

Link to the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/578/text

Background
As part of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) of 2004, food and dietary supplements that contain a major food allergen (e.g. milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and now sesame) shall be labeled in one of two manners. Either the product shall clearly name the food allergen in the ingredient list or it shall list all the food allergens present in the product in a “Contains” statement immediately after or adjacent to the ingredient list.

In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized that sesame may qualify as a new major food allergen, requesting additional data and information. They even released a draft guidance in December 2020 requesting food and dietary supplement manufacturers to identify ingredients that contain sesame within the ingredient list. For example, if a food contained Tahini, the ingredient list should state “Tahini (sesame)” or a similar statement.

Link to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA)
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-allergensgluten-free-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-allergen-labeling-and-consumer-protection-act-2004-falcpa

Link to FDA Issues Draft Guidance for Industry on Voluntary Disclosure of Sesame When Added as Flavoring or Spice
https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-issues-draft-guidance-industry-voluntary-disclosure-sesame-when-added-flavoring-or-spice

How Does this Impact You? Contact Us to Discuss
If you have any questions, please contact your customer service representative or email: info@us.bureauveritas.com

Download Regulatory Update

DOWNLOAD

Get in touchwith us

First name

Last name

Phone

Company

Country / Territory

How can we help you?

Would you like to receive marketing communication from Bureau Veritas?

Yes

INFORMATION NOTICE TO DATA SUBJECTS
Your personal data are collected by Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services Division (“BVCPS”), through its entity Bureau Veritas Hong Kong Limited (having its registered office at 1/F, Pacific Trade Centre, 2 Kai Hing Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong), as well as the BVCPS affiliate(s) with which you had, have or will have a business relationship or that otherwise decide(s) which of your personal data is collected and how it is used.  A list of BVCPS affiliates is available at: BVCPS Locations (https://www.cps.bureauveritas.com/sites/g/files/zypfnx236/files/media/document/BVCPS%20Locations_20210611_for%20web.pdf)
Your personal data are subject to computer processing in order to respond to your requests and to provide you with additional information about BVCPS services, events or topics that may be of interest to you on the basis of your consent to the processing of your personal data for that purpose (by checking the box below).
Your personal data are intended for use by the relevant business departments of BVCPS and/or their service providers depending on the nature of your requests, as well as by BVCPS IT department.    Your personal data will be retained until the earlier of (a) one year after the last communication, or (b) your request to delete the personal data. 
Your personal data may be transferred outside the European Union, on the basis of your explicit consent, as the data subject, to the proposed transfer. By checking the box below, you are providing your explicit consent to the proposed transfer, with your acknowledgement of the possible risks of such transfer due to the absence of an adequacy decision pursuant to Article 45 of the General Data Protection Regulation of 27 April 2016 or of appropriate safeguards pursuant to Article 46 of the General Data Protection Regulation of 27 April 2016.
In accordance with the French Data Protection Act of 6 January 1978 as amended and the General Data Protection Regulation of 27 April 2016, you may have the right to access, rectify and erase any personal data concerning you, as well as the right to limit the processing, the right to oppose to the processing or the right to portability of your personal data. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by connecting to the site or application (https://personaldataprotection.bureauveritas.com). and unchecking the box dedicated to the collection of your consent. You also have the right to set out general and specific guidelines that define how you intend these rights to be exercised after your death. You can exercise your rights by e-mail at the following address: https://personaldataprotection.bureauveritas.com. Finally, you have a right to lodge a complaint to the Commission Nationale Informatique et Libertés (CNIL) or the relevant authorities in your country.
Fields marked with an asterisk must be filled in. Otherwise, BVCPS would not be able to respond to your requests and/or provide you with additional information.