The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, as it’s commonly known, has classified sesame seeds a major allergen, reports Fox News.
The sesame seed is delicious, and is a very popular ingredient in so many dishes—particularly Asian-themed dishes. Toasted sesame seeds are a great finisher in salads, sautés, and of course multiple bread types. Just think of the popularity of the sesame bagel, toasted and topped with cream cheese.
Sesame seeds are now a major allergen. What does this mean for fast food chains and other restaurants?
The FDA is of course responsible for protecting the public in regards to products of a medicinal, biological, technological (in terms of medicinal technology), and of course even in the food industry among other things. They designate whether something is healthy and/or safe for use and consumption by the public.
The worry for a spike in allergies to sesame seeds has been a worry for a while…
According to the aforementioned report, the FDA named the sesame seed the 9th major allergen overall. As it turns out, the sesame seed can indeed be a major health concern and can even lead to death in particular individuals who ingest it by accident.
Dr. Purvi Parikh, who is an allergist and immunologist over at the Allergy and Asthma Network in New York, had this to say on the matter of the sesame seed:
"“It’s in so many foods…It’s often a subtle allergen that many people may not realize, but it can be life-threatening.”-via Fox News (link above)"
From Food Allergy Research and Education, Jason Linde, who is senior vice president of government and community affairs there, said the following regarding the sudden development and designation:
"“Previous to the law, (sesame) was just labeled as a spice or natural flavor…So, you never knew what you were going to get, but thankfully, we passed this bipartisan law…”-via Fox News (link above)"
According to a piece at Canada.ca, some of the major allergens include: milk, eggs, peanuts, mustard, soy, tree nuts, wheat, and now this.
There are other allergens of course, and one should take proper care to do their reach and get tested for allergies. According to healthline.com, allergies can start up at any time.
Just because you could eat shellfish in your youth doesn’t mean that an allergy to that particular food item can’t suddenly develop in adulthood, so getting tested regularly and looking for signs and/or symptoms is a very good practice to develop.
What this means for fast food chains and other restaurants…
Sesame seed buns are huge in the fast food market. I mean just think of the Big Mac at McDonalds…or what about those aforementioned sesame seed bagels with cream cheese. Tim Horton’s has sold a zillion of those if not more over the years.
Of course this is not likely to stop, but proper precautions are going to have to be put into place now to abide by the standards of the FDA and thus keep patrons safe. Many restaurants have already addressed the issue, including the very popular Olive Garden, according to the piece published at Fox News. Others will no doubt follow suit.
Some companies however are not exactly happy about these changes, according to a report at News 12…
Substitutes in recipes
The sesame seed can be substituted. You won’t get that delicious taste it brings—especially when toasted—but poppy seeds can be placed on bagels. Hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, and a very popular one are flax seeds. Of course proper care to see if allergies to these substitutes are present in individuals is a good idea as well.
The unfortunate thing about not being able to eat sunflower seeds if allergic is the loss of the many health benefits that sesame seeds have folded into their tiny packages. These health benefits include: an excellent source of protein, fiber, and even antioxidants. Of course, there are other foods out there that have these benefits if eaten.
So take proper care out there, dear readers.