When Your Child Has a Food Allergy: Sesame Seed

Sesame is considered a major food allergen under the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act. All food products that contain sesame as an ingredient must list the word “sesame” on the product label. For more information about food labeling laws, go to www.foodallergy.org.

Patient instructions: Avoid these dishes

• Anjonjoli (Mexican)

• Benne or benniseed (African)

• Gingelly (Indian)

• Goma-dofu or Gomasio (Japanese)

• Halvah (Middle Eastern)

• Hummus (Middle Eastern)

• Ma-tuan (Chinese)

• Pasteli (Greek)

• Simsin (Korean)

• Tahini (Middle Eastern)

• Teel (Indian)

• Til (Indian)

The following foods may contain sesame seed:

• Bagels, breads, biscuits, hamburger buns and other bakery products

• Breadcrumbs

• Candy corn

• Cereal

• Confection bars

• Crackers

• Energy bars

• Muesli

• Dips

• Sauces

• Sausages

• Tortilla chips

• Processed meats

• Veggie burgers

• Chutneys

• Stir fry

• Sushi

• Risotto

Please note:

While most oils do not contain enough of the food protein to cause an allergic reaction, sesame oil must be avoided due to evidence that allergic reactions can occur with ingestion of sesame oil.

If your child has ANY of the symptoms listed below, act quickly!

Use an epinephrine auto-injector right away if one has been prescribed. Then call 911.

• Trouble breathing, wheezing, or cough that won’t stop

• Swelling of the mouth or face

• Tightness in throat or hoarse voice

• Dizziness, confusion, or fainting

• Vomiting, belly pain, or severe diarrhea

Reviewed May 2024 by Megan Lewis, MSN, CRNP and Jonathan Spergel, MD, PhD