FDA Moves Toward Requiring Allergen Labels for Foods Containing Sesame
On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration took the first steps to require food labels to warn people if a product contains sesame — an effort the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) have been lobbying for.
The FDA’s move follows the recently publicized death of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who had a sesame allergy and died after eating a Pret a Manger baguette in 2016. There was no information on the packaging that sesame was baked into the baguette, despite Pret a Manger having nine allergic incidents related to sesame in the year leading up to Ednan-Laperouse’s death.
Because sesame is not recognized as a major allergen, there’s no requirement for its listing as an allergen on food labels, FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. It may not be listed as an ingredient either. Despite the current lack of labeling, “a handful of studies, for example, suggest that the prevalence of sesame allergies in the U.S. is more than 0.1 percent, on par with allergies to soy and fish,” Gottlieb said.
The first step in the process is a “request for information,” an effort to collect more data about the severity and prevalence of sesame allergy. The FDA will gather information from epidemiologists, nutritionists, allergy researchers and physicians concerning their clinical experiences and relevant findings. The FDA is also calling on the food industry and consumers to join in their efforts.
FDA is aware of & concerned about emerging evidence regarding #sesame allergies. In response to this serious concern we are issuing an #RFI to gather information regarding the prevalence & severity of sesame allergies in the U.S. https://t.co/8v17GR15aT pic.twitter.com/eg77jHoVye
— FDA FOOD (Ctr for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition) (@FDAfood) October 29, 2018
Should the FDA decide there is a need for improved labeling, it will take the agency at least one year to finalize the rule. Once approved, sesame would join the eight most common food allergens — milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans — required by law to be disclosed on food packaging. If sesame does become the ninth allergen, food manufacturers will be given a grace period to update labeling. Sesame is already on the allergen lists in Canada, Europe and Australia.
In an interview with Allergic Living, Gottlieb said he has had discussions with senators on Capitol Hill and has reviewed a number of citizens’ petitions as well as studies submitted to the agency regarding undeclared sesame in food labels and the health problems it presents. “All of that input we’ve received from the public is in part what prompted us to start this process,” Gottlieb said.
Gottlieb added that the undeclared presence of allergens in foods is the leading reason for food recalls and a significant public health issue, making it a considerable policy focus for the agency.
While it may take a while for changes to be made, the food allergy community has welcomed the news.
It's taken years, but there's finally some movement at the FDA with regard to sesame allergy. The FDA is asking for information from professionals and consumers. #foodallergy #sesame
Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. https://t.co/qjJBkY4S15
— Lynda Mitchell, CAE (@LyndaGMitchell) October 29, 2018
The FDA is considering adding sesame to the list of allergens that need to be labeled on food products. Sesame is an important food allergen and can cause severe reactions #foodallergy #allergy pic.twitter.com/KdaxCoFY76
— Dr. Katie (@DocAllergies) October 29, 2018
@SGottliebFDA is seeking additional comment regarding #sesame #foodallergies. It is important that major potential food allergens be listed. Sesame is listed in Europe! Federal Register :: Public Inspection: Sesame as an Allergen in Foods https://t.co/P3AET9cHLJ
— Paneez Khoury MD (@KhouryMD) October 29, 2018
If you have a sesame allergy and would like to make your voice heard, you can help by filing out this questionnaire created by FARE and AAFA.
Getty image by bdspn
Ellen Stumbo is the founder of Disability Matters, an organization with the mission to encourage every church to embrace disability. Ellen is a national speaker who focuses on issues pertaining adoption, faith, disability and parenting kids with disabilities. Ellen writes for several online platforms including Focus on the Family, LifeWay, MomSense, Not Alone, Mamapedia, Group, The Mighty and the Huffington Post. Her writing also appears in several book anthologies. Ellen blogs at ellenstumbo.com and you can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.
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