Sesame is a food allergen, according to the FDA. As of January 1, 2023, sesame allergen labeling is required on all food packages. But there is a lag time. Sesame joins the eight other major food allergens: eggs, milk, soy, finfish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat. These ingredients must, by federal law, be listed on ingredient labels and any food that includes them must also have an allergen statement. The transition period, however, means that people who are allergic to sesame must still be careful. Food products that are already in the store, in stock, or in transport to stores do not need to have the label yet. And since some foods have a long shelf life, it could be months before all foods that contain sesame actually have an allergen statement. It's also … [Read more...]
Calise & Sons Bakery Recalls Golden Flax Seed Scala Bread For Sesame
Calise & Sons Bakery is recalling Golden Flax Seed Scala Bread because the product may contain sesame seeds, the newest of the nine major food allergens, that is not declared on the label. The problem is that Italian Scala Bread (Italian bread with Sesame Seeds) was packaged by error in a bag that is labeled as Golden Flax Seed Scala Bread that does not list sesame as an ingredient. A total of 689 packages of the bread were produced that were sold in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. The recalled product is labeled as Golden Flax Seed Scala Bread. The bread is packaged in a bag that has a white plastic clip closure with a sell by date of 12-06 and a Julian date of 327. The company has contacted distributors, and products that have have not yet been … [Read more...]
FASTER Act For Sesame Labeling as Food Allergen Passes U.S. House
The FASTER Act for sesame labeling and food allergy research has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill, called the Food Allergen Safety, Treatment, education, and Research Act (S. 578), passed the U.S. Senate on March 3, 2021, and it now goes from Congress to President Biden for his signature. This bill has been long advocated for by food allergy and food safety advocates. Now, sesame products must be labeled as allergens on all processed and packaged foods, which will help the 1,600,000 Americans who are allergic to this ingredient. Lisa Gable, chief executive officer of Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), said in a statement, "There is nothing more important to the food allergy community than ensuring that the FASTER Act is put into law. On behalf of the … [Read more...]
