In early 2023, the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (or FASTER) Act designated sesame as a major food allergen, making it the ninth most common food allergen and joining the ranks of allergens including nuts, shellfish, fish, crustaceans, milk, eggs, soy, wheat. This means that food labels are now required to list sesame as an ingredient.
This is a commendable move by the government, as sesame is in a large number of processed foods, including baked goods, cereals, dips, dressings, oils, marinades, granola, packaged rice and soups, and more.
In our Children & Food Allergies series, we’re going to break down what it is about sesame that can cause an allergic reaction and help you understand the risk this allergen may pose to others.
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Introducing sesame seeds
Sesame seeds are very healthy. Rich in proteins and healthy fats, they are also loaded with antioxidants, dietary fiber, and essential vitamins and nutrients, like magnesium, B vitamins, and potassium.
The guidance for introducing allergens, like sesame, to children has shifted, and recent science shows that the sooner and more regularly you expose your child, the less likely they will develop an allergy. This means introducing sesame and other allergens as early as 4 to 6 months old.
My "Taste, Bite, Normal Portion" strategy is an excellent and safe way to begin allergen exposures. Through this method, you feed your baby food allergens one at a time, once a day, for three days and closely monitor for reactions. Each day, you increase the amount offered.
A typical schedule for introducing and monitoring allergens includes:
- Day 1: Offer a small amount of the allergen, then closely observe and monitor for reactions. Most reactions occur within minutes to two hours after exposure.
- Day 2: Offer a slightly larger amount of that same food and then monitor for reactions.
- Day 3: Increase the food offered to a "normal" serving size and monitor reactions.
After three days of introduction, it is still possible for a reaction to occur, but the more consistently you offer the allergen, the more you can reduce the risk of an allergy.
Preparing sesame for a baby
There are several ways you can give your baby sesame. For babies between 4 to 6 months of age, you can mix tahini with yogurt, avocado, or applesauce.
While there are no official guidelines on how much to offer each day, based on research studies and my client work, I recommend:
- Day 1: 1/2 teaspoon
- Day 2: 1 teaspoon
- Day 3: 2 teaspoons
As with any allergen, it’s important to speak with your pediatrician before introducing it to your baby, especially if there is a family history of food allergies.
There's still good news and bad news
The good news with sesame allergies is that they are rare, with less than 1% of U.S. children and adults suffering from one. The bad news? Only 20-30% of children with a sesame allergy will outgrow it. Required food labeling to indicate sesame as an ingredient provides more transparency and allows consumers to make better, safer decisions for their families. Also, children who are allergic to peanuts and tree nuts are more likely to have an allergy to sesame.
What are sesame seeds?
Sesame seeds are part of the nut and seed family, and proteins within a sesame seed can trigger an allergic reaction in the body similar to that of a nut allergy. Signs of an allergic reaction to sesame seeds include facial swelling, skin conditions like rash or eczema, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal issues like nausea and vomiting, and respiratory reactions like wheezing and nasal congestion. In severe cases, a person can experience anaphylaxis from a sesame seed allergy.
What makes a sesame allergy confusing is that a person may have varying degrees of an allergic reaction based on the form of sesame. For example, a person may not be able to tolerate a hamburger bun loaded with sesame seeds but could have a higher threshold for tahini, a paste made of ground sesame often used in hummus. If you suspect your child is having a reaction to sesame, always consult with your pediatrician and an allergist to come up with a plan that best suits your family.
