Sesame Joins the Top 9 Allergens — What U.S. Operators Need to Know
The California Allergen Disclosure Law (SB-68, ADDE Act) now includes sesame as the ninth major allergen. Research indicates that sesame allergies affect approximately 0.23–0.49% of U.S. children and adults, with a risk of anaphylaxis (PMC article).
Sesame Added under the FASTER Act (2023)
At the federal level, the FASTER Act (2021) recognized sesame as the ninth major allergen since 2023. This aligns California’s SB-68 with federal law, ensuring consistent allergen disclosure across packaged foods and restaurant menus nationwide. Chains must now track sesame in all ingredients, recipes, and menu items.
Where Sesame Can Appear
Sesame can be obvious when used as a topping such as sesame seeds on burger buns, or hidden in ingredients, such as tahini, oils, or spice blends. Tracking sesame accurately is critical across menus, recipes, and vendor ingredients to ensure safe dining experiences.
Written allergen disclosures, including sesame, prevents accidental exposure for allergic guests and supports compliance during inspections. While digital food data management and allergen disclosure systems can streamline allergens from vendor to customer, it’s important to understand where sesame is usually found for a final sense-checking of disclosures and as an extra layer of safety to your business.
Common sesame sources, menu items, and operational considerations are shown in the table below:
| Ingredient / Source | Common Menu Items | Operational Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sesame seeds | Burger buns, bagels, flatbreads, sushi rolls | Visible allergen; track and display clearly |
| Tahini / sesame paste | Hummus, sauces, dressings | Hidden; verify via vendor ingredient tracking |
| Sesame oil | Marinades, stir-fries, dressings | Ensure all recipe updates include this ingredient |
| Sesame flour / ground sesame | Baked goods, cookies, cakes | Cross-check recipes with vendor data for hidden sesame |
| Sesame in spice blends | Dukkah, rubs, sauces | Validate ingredient list from vendor |
| Hidden derivatives | Processed sauces, dressings, bakery mixes | Use automated ingredient tracking to ensure disclosure |
What Operators Should Do
Operators should audit all recipes and vendor feeds to ensure sesame is accurately tracked and declared. SB-68 requires restaurant chains with 20+ U.S. locations to publicly disclose allergens on menus by July 1, 2026, including a written format available upon request. Compliance is overseen by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
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