Sesame now classified as a major allergen by the FDA

Sesame is now considered a major food allergen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making it the ninth such allergen to be recognized by the administration.

As of Jan. 1, sesame is required to be labeled on products that are produced and sold in the U.S., with exceptions for some items such as those already on shelves. Other foods with the major allergen classification include shellfish, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.

Sesame is the ninth most common food allergy among children and adults, according to Food Allergy Research and Education.

As food allergies have gained more awareness in recent years, noncommercial operators have made efforts to make dining more inclusive for guests with allergies. Food management company SAGE Dining in the fall debuted a new concept that is free of the 12 most common food allergens, and Stanford University has introduced allergen-free stations in each of its dining halls.