The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act identified sesame as the ninth major food allergen on January 1, 2023. Sesame seeds are now required to be listed as an allergen in processed foods and dietary supplements. This change will allow you or a loved one with a food allergy to quickly identify if a packaged food contains sesame seeds.
To increase awareness of the FASTER Act, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed new educational materials to explain how this change affects consumers. Millions of Americans have food allergies and experience adverse reactions to food allergens. Most allergic reactions cause mild symptoms, but some allergic reactions can be severe or life-threatening. Understanding how the FASTER Act changes food labels may help consumers prevent these side effects.
Resources available to consumers for research regarding the FASTER Act include:
The “FASTER Act: Sesame Is the Ninth Major Food Allergen” webpage analyzes the facts about the FASTER Act, lists current sesame allergy labeling requirements, and explains why all foods will not immediately list sesame as an allergen. I am.
The FASTER Act social media toolkit includes pre-written newsletter announcements and sample social media copy for X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. Four graphics are also available, including three GIFs.
Sesame allergy? Food labels are now required to list sesame as an allergen. This video details important information for people with sesame allergies and other food allergies to know.
These materials will help you or your loved one with food allergies learn more about how the FASTER method affects how you read food labels. FDA’s FASTER Act materials are also available in Spanish.
Read food labels carefully and contact the food manufacturer or distributor if you have concerns about potential allergens. Some packaged foods have long shelf lives. Products manufactured before the FASTER Act went into effect may not include the updated label. The FASTER Act would require sesame to be listed along with eight other major food allergens:
– milk
–
egg
–
Fish such as bass, flounder, and cod
–
Crustacean shellfish such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimp
Tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans
–
peanuts
–
wheat
–
soy
Learn more about how the FASTER Act is changing the way you view food labels.