--- title: "Sesame Allergen Labelling and Introduction Rules: European Union" description: "Sesame seeds are item 11 of the EU's 14 allergens, with no exemptions, and sesame was on the EU list long before the US added it in 2023." url: "https://baby-allergy-tracker.com/guides/sesame/european-union/" --- [Allergen guides](/guides/) / [European Union](/guides/#european-union) / Sesame Allergen guide · European Union # Sesame in the European Union: label rules and introduction guidance Sources checked September 2026. Every claim below links to the official source it comes from. **Educational note:** This guide summarises official labelling rules and published guidance. It is not medical advice. Always ask your paediatrician about your baby's specific health needs before introducing new foods or interpreting symptoms. [Read our full disclaimer](/disclaimer/). **Direct Answer:** Sesame seeds are item 11 of the EU's 14 allergens, with no exemptions, and sesame was on the EU list long before the US added it in 2023. EFSA's 2019 opinion does not name sesame; its conclusion covers allergenic foods in general. ## Is sesame on the EU's list of 14 allergens? Annex II lists 'sesame seeds and products thereof' as item 11 with no exemptions, so sesame oil, tahini and seeds on bread all have to be emphasised in the ingredient list. Where a food has no ingredient list, the regulation's fallback is the word 'contains' followed by the allergen. Sesame has been in Annex II since the regulation was adopted in 2011, whereas the US only made sesame a major allergen from 1 January 2023, so families moving between the two will find EU labels have named sesame for longer. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers lists 14 substances or products in Annex II. Article 21 requires each one to be emphasised in the list of ingredients through a typeset that clearly distinguishes it, for example by font, style or background colour. Where a food has no ingredient list, the label uses the word 'contains' followed by the allergen's name. - [EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II (consolidated text)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011R1169-20180101) ## What EFSA guidance says about introducing sesame EFSA's 2019 opinion does not mention sesame. It evaluated foods containing egg, cereals, fish, soy and peanut, and its broader conclusion is that allergenic foods can be introduced when other complementary foods are introduced. Sources were thin here: we found no EU-level infant guidance written for sesame, so timing and form are questions for your national health authority's advice and your paediatrician. A smooth form such as tahini is a common way families first offer it. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed about 300 scientific publications for its 2019 opinion on when complementary foods can be introduced. EFSA's opinion is scientific advice to EU risk managers; recommendations to the public are issued by the health authorities of each Member State, so the plan your paediatrician follows may come from a national guideline. - [EFSA: Appropriate age range for introduction of complementary feeding into an infant's diet (2019)](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/5780) - [EFSA: Age to start complementary feeding of infants (plain-language summary)](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/Complementary_Feeding_PLS_PDF.pdf) ## Logging sesame in the app Set your region to the European Union and the app's allergen schedule follows the 14 Annex II allergens. In the schedule, sesame appears as **Sesame**. Each allergen entry moves from not started to introduced, cleared or reaction, and the 14-day window keeps new foods spaced out so a delayed reaction is easier to match to a food. Note the form, such as tahini stirred into a purée, so you can repeat the same food later. If you see a symptom, log it with its severity; the paediatrician report gathers the dates into one PDF for your next appointment. It is a record for you and your doctor, not a diagnosis. Track sesame from first taste to cleared Log every offering and any reaction against your baby's own timeline, then share one clear report with your paediatrician. [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1445346223?pt=117722137&ct=Blog&mt=8) [Google Play version coming soon](mailto:support@baby-allergy-tracker.com?subject=Notify%20me%20when%20the%20Android%20version%20launches) Coming soon — clicktap to get notified Free to download. Premium from US$2.99/month or US$24.99/year; prices vary by country. ![](/assets/images/app-store-qr.png) Scan with your iPhone camera to get the app. [Or open the App Store link →](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1445346223?pt=117722137&ct=Blog&mt=8) The app is iPhone only for now. [Tell me when it comes to Android](mailto:support@baby-allergy-tracker.com?subject=Notify%20me%20when%20the%20Android%20version%20launches) ## Sesame in other countries - [Sesame in the United States](/guides/sesame/united-states/) - [Sesame in the United Kingdom](/guides/sesame/united-kingdom/) - [Sesame in Australia and New Zealand](/guides/sesame/australia-new-zealand/) - [Sesame in Canada](/guides/sesame/canada/) ## Other allergens in the European Union - [Peanut in the European Union](/guides/peanut/european-union/) - [Tree nuts in the European Union](/guides/tree-nuts/european-union/) - [Egg in the European Union](/guides/egg/european-union/) - [Milk in the European Union](/guides/milk/european-union/) - [Wheat in the European Union](/guides/wheat/european-union/) - [Soy in the European Union](/guides/soy/european-union/) - [Fish in the European Union](/guides/fish/european-union/) - [Shellfish in the European Union](/guides/shellfish/european-union/) The full [EU allergen list](/blog/eu-14-allergens-food-labelling-list/): all 14 allergens, and why it's longer than the US's. See every region's full list side by side on [Allergen Lists by Region](/allergen-lists/).