Important update for anyone who manufactures, packages, labels, or imports sesame or products that contain or may contain (come into contact with) sesame into the United States.

On April 23, 2021, President Biden signed the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act into law, which will include sesame to be listed along with the top eight major allergens (dairy, eggs, fish, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat) on food packaging and labelling. The act will come into effect on January 1, 2023. The bill received bipartisan support with a vote of 415-11 in the House of Representatives.

The Act mandates the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide a report outlining the newest and most promising science in allergy research aimed at classifying, measuring, diagnosing, and preventing food allergies. It also tasks the HHS to modify the federal government’s list of major allergens by way of updating the existing regulations. This report is required to be in front of Congress and posted onto the HHS in 18 months.

Click here to access the full FASTER act published by congress: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/578

If you manufacture, package, label, or import sesame or products that contain sesame and need guidance on how these new labelling requirements will affect your business, please contact dicentra Food Safety and Quality Consulting.