On this page
- Why Is Sesame Now a Labelled Allergen?
- What Does the US FASTER Act Require?
- What Are the EU Allergen Labelling Rules for Sesame?
- What Are the GCC Allergen Labelling Requirements?
- How Do Sesame Labelling Rules Compare by Market?
- How Do Cross-Contact and Precautionary Labelling Work?
- What Should Sesame Importers Ask Their Suppliers?
- How Do You Source Sesame Seeds from India with Correct Allergen Documents?
- Frequently asked questions
Sesame allergen labeling is now mandatory in the USA, the EU, the GCC states and most other major markets: any food that contains sesame must name it clearly on the label. In the USA, the FASTER Act made sesame the ninth major food allergen from 1 January 2023, while the EU and GCC already listed sesame among their 14 declarable allergens. The rules differ in how sesame must be shown and how “may contain” warnings are treated. This guide compares the main markets and explains what importers and food makers should ask their sesame suppliers.
Key takeaways
- The US FASTER Act requires sesame to be declared like the other major allergens from 1 January 2023.
- In the EU, sesame is one of 14 allergens in Annex II of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 and must be emphasised in the ingredient list.
- GCC states follow GSO 9, which lists sesame as a mandatory allergen, with labels in Arabic.
- “May contain sesame” warnings are voluntary in most markets but must be honest and based on a real risk assessment.
Why Is Sesame Now a Labelled Allergen?
Sesame is labelled because it can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, even in small amounts. It is also hard to spot. Sesame appears in tahini, halva, hummus, bread, crackers, dressings, spice blends and sesame oil, and it is sometimes hidden behind words such as “spices” or “flavouring”.
Many countries added sesame to their allergen lists years ago. The EU did so in its general labelling law, and the GCC included it in its labelling standard. The USA was later. Until 2023, US labels did not have to declare sesame as an allergen. In 2024, the Codex Alimentarius Commission also updated its General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods to include sesame among the foods that must be declared. This means sesame is now treated as a major allergen in nearly every large food market.
What Does the US FASTER Act Require?
The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021 added sesame to the list of major food allergens in US law. From 1 January 2023, foods containing sesame must declare it in the same way as milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sesame can be declared in one of these ways:
- by its common name in the ingredient list, for example “sesame seeds”;
- in brackets after an ingredient, for example “tahini (sesame)”;
- in a “Contains” statement after the ingredient list, for example “Contains: sesame”.
The law also affects how factories control cross-contact. US food facilities must manage allergen cross-contact under their food safety plans. After the FASTER Act came into force, some manufacturers chose to add a small amount of sesame to products and declare it, instead of separating sesame from other lines. The FDA has said this is legal, but it does not support the practice, because it reduces the choice of safe foods for people with sesame allergy.
What Are the EU Allergen Labelling Rules for Sesame?
In the EU, sesame is a major allergen. “Sesame seeds and products thereof” is one of the 14 substances listed in Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers.
The main rules are:
- Emphasis in the ingredient list: sesame must stand out from the other ingredients, for example in bold, capitals or a different colour.
- No ingredient list: if a food has no ingredient list, the label must say “contains sesame”.
- Non-prepacked food: allergen information must also be given for food sold loose or served in restaurants.
- Language: the information must be in a language easily understood by consumers in the country of sale.
For bulk sesame seeds sold to processors, the commercial documents must still identify the product clearly so that the next food business can label correctly. The UK applies the same 14 allergens under its retained version of the regulation.
What Are the GCC Allergen Labelling Requirements?
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, which are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, follow GSO 9, the Gulf standard for labelling prepackaged foods. It lists “sesame seeds and products thereof” among the allergens that must be declared.
Labels must be in Arabic, and English is allowed alongside it. Allergens should be clearly visible and easy to read. Each country enforces the standard through its own authority, such as the Saudi Food and Drug Authority or the food authorities of each UAE emirate. Labels are often checked during product registration, before the first shipment is cleared, so allergen errors can delay a whole container.
How Do Sesame Labelling Rules Compare by Market?
The table summarises how sesame must be declared in the main export markets for Indian sesame.
| Market | Legal basis | Sesame status | How to declare |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | FALCPA as amended by the FASTER Act | Major allergen since 1 Jan 2023 | Ingredient list, brackets or “Contains” statement |
| European Union | Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, Annex II | One of 14 allergens | Emphasised in the ingredient list |
| United Kingdom | Retained food information rules | One of 14 allergens | Emphasised in the ingredient list |
| GCC states | GSO 9 | Mandatory allergen | Clear declaration in Arabic, English allowed |
| Codex (reference) | General Standard for Labelling, revised 2024 | Declarable allergen | Clear, distinct declaration |
Sesame allergen declaration rules in major markets. Check the current national rules before printing labels.
How Do Cross-Contact and Precautionary Labelling Work?
Cross-contact happens when sesame gets into a food that is not supposed to contain it, for example through shared equipment, dust or storage. Precautionary allergen labelling, such as “may contain sesame”, warns consumers of this risk.
In most markets, these warnings are voluntary, but they are not a free choice. In the EU, voluntary information must not mislead consumers and should be based on a real assessment of risk. In the USA, advisory statements must be truthful and are not a substitute for good manufacturing practice. In both markets, a “may contain” label should come from an allergen risk assessment of your own process, not from habit.
Good allergen control includes cleaning and checking shared lines, scheduling allergen products after non-allergen products, keeping clear storage areas, and training staff. For a company that buys bulk sesame seeds, the main risk is the reverse: other materials getting into the sesame. Sesame cleaned and packed in a plant that also handles peanuts, for example, may need a peanut cross-contact statement in your risk assessment.
What Should Sesame Importers Ask Their Suppliers?
Ask your supplier for written information that lets you complete your own allergen assessment and label. A useful checklist is:
- An ingredient and allergen declaration for each product and lot.
- A list of other allergens handled in the same facility, such as peanuts, mustard or cereals.
- A description of cleaning between products and how lines are separated.
- A product specification with purity and foreign matter limits.
- A lot-wise Certificate of Analysis covering Salmonella, ethylene oxide, pesticide residues and aflatoxin.
- Bag marking with lot numbers, so each bag can be traced back to the cleaning batch.
Remember that the allergen rules follow sesame into every product made from it. Tahini, halva, sesame paste, sesame flour, toasted seeds and seed blends must all declare sesame, and so must bread or snacks with sesame only as a topping. If you use sesame in several products, keep one master record of which recipes contain it, and update your labels whenever a recipe or supplier changes. Our article on how to eat sesame seeds shows the many food uses where sesame must be declared.
These documents also help you pass customer audits and answer retailer questionnaires. Our traceability page explains how we link each bag to its lot, and our quality page sets out our controls.
Related reading: How Are Sesame Seeds Hulled? The Hulling Process Explained.
How Do You Source Sesame Seeds from India with Correct Allergen Documents?
Choose an exporter that can supply allergen declarations, lot-wise test reports and traceable packing with every shipment, so that your sesame allergen labeling is built on reliable data. Elysium Agri Corporation exports natural, hulled and black sesame from Jamnagar, Gujarat. We supply sortex-cleaned grades up to 99.98% purity, test every lot for Salmonella, ethylene oxide, pesticide residues and aflatoxin, and provide an ingredient and allergen declaration on request. Our lab testing page lists the full test panel, and you can read our guide to importing sesame seeds from India for grades and shipping.
Tell us the variety, grade, quantity and destination market, and we will send a quote with the specification sheet. Request a sesame quote →
Frequently asked questions
What does the FASTER Act require for sesame?
The FASTER Act made sesame the ninth major food allergen in the USA from 1 January 2023. Foods containing sesame must declare it by name in the ingredient list, in brackets after an ingredient such as tahini, or in a 'Contains' statement. Facilities must also manage sesame cross-contact under their food safety controls.
Is sesame a major allergen in the EU?
Yes. 'Sesame seeds and products thereof' is one of the 14 allergens listed in Annex II of Regulation (EU) 1169/2011. Sesame must be emphasised in the ingredient list, for example in bold. Where a food has no ingredient list, the label must state 'contains sesame'. Allergen information is also required for non-prepacked food.
How must sesame be declared on labels in GCC countries?
GCC states apply GSO 9, the Gulf standard for labelling prepackaged foods, which lists sesame among the mandatory allergens. Labels must be in Arabic, with English allowed alongside. Allergens should be clearly visible. Labels are often reviewed during product registration, so an allergen error can delay customs clearance of the whole shipment.
Do exporters need separate lines to avoid sesame cross-contact?
The law does not always require separate lines, but each facility must control the risk. Common controls are validated cleaning between products, scheduling, separate storage and staff training. Buyers should ask which other allergens a supplier handles and how lines are cleaned, then decide whether a precautionary statement is needed on their own label.
What are the precautionary allergen labelling rules for sesame?
Statements such as 'may contain sesame' are voluntary in the USA, the EU and most other markets. They must be truthful, must not mislead, and should be based on a real risk assessment. They cannot replace good manufacturing practice or cleaning controls. Overusing them limits safe food choices for people with sesame allergy.
Related reads
