Sesame joins the list as the ninth food group to account for 90% of all food allergies in the United States. Sesame allergies and sensitivities are on the rise in America. While most products that contain sesame do list it on their allergen statement, sesame had not been required to be listed when it is used as a spice or flavor. This puts many Americans at risk of adverse reactions without knowing that sesame is present.
The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment Education and Research Act of 2021 (FASTER ACT) bill states that foods containing sesame that are introduced into interstate commerce on or after January 1, 2023, must include “sesame” in their allergen’s declaration. This will update the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA).
The Big Nine include:
Milk (also processed milk products and milk components, includes milk derived from species other than bovines, such as goat milk and buffalo milk)
Eggs (also processed egg products and egg components)
Peanuts (also processed peanut products and peanut components)
Tree Nuts (includes walnuts, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts/filberts, pistachios, cashews, pine nuts, macadamia nuts, coconut, and Brazil nuts)
Fish (also processed fish products – fresh water and saltwater species)
Shellfish (includes crab, crawfish, lobster, shrimp, mussels, and oysters)
Soy (also soy-derived products such as soy protein concentrate)
Wheat (includes barley, rye, oats, and spelt as the grain, flour, or other forms)
Sesame (seed of various formats: white, toasted, black, or other forms)
The most common allergens found in teas are tree nuts, mainly coconut, pecan, walnut, and almond. Some teas that contain candy pieces like chocolate or decorettes may also contain milk and soy. Though #teas rarely contain wheat, barley teas of Asia would fall under the wheat allergen.
Hula Consulting assists companies in complying with their Allergen Control Plan and all FDA regulations. We offer a Labeling and Ingredient Review service to help assure your food label is FDA-compliant, including the proper ingredient and allergen statements.
Thirsty for more?
The #teaexperts at Hula Consulting are here to help with your tea business needs! Please get in touch with us today to help with your Allergen Control Plan and sourcing teas, flavorings, and ingredients for your tea line. We can also provide tea education courses to give you and your team the tools to be better cuppers, blenders, and purchasers of teas and tea ingredients!
Email Scott@HulaConsulting.com or call 561.600.7025 to get started today!