--- title: "Sesame Allergen Labelling and Introduction Rules: United States" description: "Sesame became the ninth US major food allergen under the FASTER Act, signed on 23 April 2021, with labelling required from 1 January 2023." url: "https://baby-allergy-tracker.com/guides/sesame/united-states/" --- [Allergen guides](/guides/) / [United States](/guides/#united-states) / Sesame Allergen guide · United States # Sesame in the United States: 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 became the ninth US major food allergen under the FASTER Act, signed on 23 April 2021, with labelling required from 1 January 2023. It must now be named even inside spice mixes, as 'Contains sesame' or 'spices (sesame)'. CDC's general advice is to introduce potentially allergenic foods alongside other first foods. ## Is sesame on the FDA's list of 9 major food allergens? Sesame is the newest addition to the US list. The FASTER Act was signed into law on 23 April 2021 and made sesame the ninth major food allergen from 1 January 2023. Before then, sesame could sit unnamed inside terms such as 'spices' or 'natural flavors'. FDA's Edition 5 guidance now says that when sesame is part of a spice mix it must be declared in a 'Contains' statement or in parentheses after the word spice, as 'Contains sesame' or 'spices (sesame)'. Products labelled before 2023 may not show sesame at all, so older stock is worth reading with care. In the United States, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) and the FASTER Act, names nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. A packaged food has to declare each one either in parentheses after an ingredient, such as 'whey (milk)', or in a 'Contains' statement printed immediately after or next to the ingredient list. - [FDA: Food Allergies](https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-food-labeling-and-critical-foods/food-allergies) - [FDA: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens (Edition 5, January 2025)](https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-questions-and-answers-regarding-food-allergen-labeling-edition-5) ## What CDC guidance says about introducing sesame CDC's first-foods guidance asks parents to introduce potentially allergenic foods when they introduce other foods, and it does not name sesame separately. The NIAID addendum covers peanut only, so there is no US federal guideline written for sesame on its own. Families often meet sesame through tahini or hummus. If your baby has eczema or another food allergy, ask your paediatrician before offering sesame for the first time, and whether a smooth form such as tahini suits your baby's stage. US advice on first foods comes from several places. CDC's page for parents says to introduce potentially allergenic foods when you introduce other foods. For peanut specifically, an expert panel sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) published addendum guidelines in 2017. Neither replaces a conversation with your paediatrician about your own baby. - [CDC: When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods](https://www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/foods-and-drinks/when-what-and-how-to-introduce-solid-foods.html) ## Logging sesame in the app Set your region to the United States and the app's allergen schedule follows the FDA's nine. 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 European Union](/guides/sesame/european-union/) - [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 United States - [Peanut in the United States](/guides/peanut/united-states/) - [Tree nuts in the United States](/guides/tree-nuts/united-states/) - [Egg in the United States](/guides/egg/united-states/) - [Milk in the United States](/guides/milk/united-states/) - [Wheat in the United States](/guides/wheat/united-states/) - [Soy in the United States](/guides/soy/united-states/) - [Fish in the United States](/guides/fish/united-states/) - [Shellfish in the United States](/guides/shellfish/united-states/) See every region's full list side by side on [Allergen Lists by Region](/allergen-lists/).