Sesame seeds have been used for a variety of reasons for thousands of years. They are available in three different colors—white, black, and brown. Sesame seeds and the oil extracted from the seeds are commonly used in recipes; sesame oils are found in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.Matilde Gattoni / Getty ImagesWhat Is Sesame Allergy?Allergy to sesame is not new. Though it was first described in 1950, it seems to be a growing problem.In 2023, sesame became the ninth allergen required to be declared on food labels in the United States. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021, which added sesame to the list, along with:MilkEggsFishCrustaceans (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp)Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans)PeanutsWheatSoybeansThe symptoms of sesame allergy can include:HivesItchingRashTingling in the mouth or throatNasal congestionAnaphylaxisSome people experience hives as a result of direct exposure to products containing sesame allergens.Sesame allergy can affect people of all ages. Some people outgrow it, while in others, it persists.Does Sesame Allergy Place a Person at Risk for Other Food Allergies?Because sesame allergens are similar in biochemical structure to peanut allergens, people with sesame allergy are at risk for having allergic reactions as a result of eating peanuts, and vice-versa. This is known as cross-reactivity—when one substance is similar to another and the immune system treats them both the same. There also appears to be cross-reactivity between sesame allergens and rye, kiwi, poppy seed, andvarious tree nuts(such as hazelnut,black walnut, cashew, macadamia, and pistachio).People with sesame allergy should talk with their physicians about which other food they may need to avoid.
Sesame seeds have been used for a variety of reasons for thousands of years. They are available in three different colors—white, black, and brown. Sesame seeds and the oil extracted from the seeds are commonly used in recipes; sesame oils are found in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Matilde Gattoni / Getty Images
What Is Sesame Allergy?
Allergy to sesame is not new. Though it was first described in 1950, it seems to be a growing problem.In 2023, sesame became the ninth allergen required to be declared on food labels in the United States. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021, which added sesame to the list, along with:
The symptoms of sesame allergy can include:
Some people experience hives as a result of direct exposure to products containing sesame allergens.
Sesame allergy can affect people of all ages. Some people outgrow it, while in others, it persists.
Does Sesame Allergy Place a Person at Risk for Other Food Allergies?
Because sesame allergens are similar in biochemical structure to peanut allergens, people with sesame allergy are at risk for having allergic reactions as a result of eating peanuts, and vice-versa. This is known as cross-reactivity—when one substance is similar to another and the immune system treats them both the same. There also appears to be cross-reactivity between sesame allergens and rye, kiwi, poppy seed, andvarious tree nuts(such as hazelnut,black walnut, cashew, macadamia, and pistachio).People with sesame allergy should talk with their physicians about which other food they may need to avoid.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gangur V, Acharya HG.The global rise and the complexity of sesame allergy: prime time to regulate sesame in the United States of America?.Allergies. 2020;1(1):1-21. doi:10.3390/allergies1010001Department of Health and Human Services.The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021.Teodorowicz M, Terlouw RJ, Jansen A, Savelkoul HFJ, Ruinemans-Koerts J.Immunological characterization of Dutch sesame seed-allergic patients.Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2016;169(1):13-22. doi:10.1159/000443641Lakshmi C.Allergic contact dermatitis (type IV hypersensitivity) and type I hypersensitivity following aromatherapy with Ayurvedic oils (dhanwantharam thailam, eladi coconut oil) presenting as generalized erythema and pruritus with flexural eczema.Indian J Dermatol. 2014;59(3):283–286. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.131402
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gangur V, Acharya HG.The global rise and the complexity of sesame allergy: prime time to regulate sesame in the United States of America?.Allergies. 2020;1(1):1-21. doi:10.3390/allergies1010001Department of Health and Human Services.The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021.Teodorowicz M, Terlouw RJ, Jansen A, Savelkoul HFJ, Ruinemans-Koerts J.Immunological characterization of Dutch sesame seed-allergic patients.Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2016;169(1):13-22. doi:10.1159/000443641Lakshmi C.Allergic contact dermatitis (type IV hypersensitivity) and type I hypersensitivity following aromatherapy with Ayurvedic oils (dhanwantharam thailam, eladi coconut oil) presenting as generalized erythema and pruritus with flexural eczema.Indian J Dermatol. 2014;59(3):283–286. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.131402
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gangur V, Acharya HG.The global rise and the complexity of sesame allergy: prime time to regulate sesame in the United States of America?.Allergies. 2020;1(1):1-21. doi:10.3390/allergies1010001Department of Health and Human Services.The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021.Teodorowicz M, Terlouw RJ, Jansen A, Savelkoul HFJ, Ruinemans-Koerts J.Immunological characterization of Dutch sesame seed-allergic patients.Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2016;169(1):13-22. doi:10.1159/000443641Lakshmi C.Allergic contact dermatitis (type IV hypersensitivity) and type I hypersensitivity following aromatherapy with Ayurvedic oils (dhanwantharam thailam, eladi coconut oil) presenting as generalized erythema and pruritus with flexural eczema.Indian J Dermatol. 2014;59(3):283–286. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.131402
Gangur V, Acharya HG.The global rise and the complexity of sesame allergy: prime time to regulate sesame in the United States of America?.Allergies. 2020;1(1):1-21. doi:10.3390/allergies1010001
Department of Health and Human Services.The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021.
Teodorowicz M, Terlouw RJ, Jansen A, Savelkoul HFJ, Ruinemans-Koerts J.Immunological characterization of Dutch sesame seed-allergic patients.Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2016;169(1):13-22. doi:10.1159/000443641
Lakshmi C.Allergic contact dermatitis (type IV hypersensitivity) and type I hypersensitivity following aromatherapy with Ayurvedic oils (dhanwantharam thailam, eladi coconut oil) presenting as generalized erythema and pruritus with flexural eczema.Indian J Dermatol. 2014;59(3):283–286. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.131402
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