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Eight major food allergens must currently be declared on US labeling using their common names: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.
The FDA cites the undeclared presence of allergens as one of the leading reasons for food recalls and a public health issue.
"Unfortunately, we're starting to see evidence that her allergies may be growing in the US," Gottlieb said. "A handful of studies, for example, suggests that the prevalence of allergy in the US is more than 0.1 percent, with allergies to soy and fish."
Lisa Gable, CEO of the nonprofit Food Allergy Research and Education group, said research suggests that over 300,000 Americans are affected by her allergy. "The consensus of both doctors and advocacy groups that support people with food allergies is that it is growing as a national problem and should be labeled as one of the allergens to be reported on labeling," she said.
The group says its reactions can vary from person to person and can range from hives to anaphylaxis. The possibility of such severe reactions is why it claims that the labeling requirements for sesame need to change.
"Gable said," People with life-threatening food allergies and the family and friends. "They need to be able to make sure that they are not facing a situation of cross-contamination, that they are not English is. "
Dr. Robert Wood, President of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, agrees: "Sesame could be in an ingredient list under a word like tahini or even under a very natural term like 'natural flavor,' so the worry is that it could be something that even a very careful person
Dr. Scott Sicherer, Director of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute and Professor of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said patients have had to make assumptions as to whether or not to find the exact ingredients of a product. "My patients now, they 're concerned about sesame is not part of the labeling laws, if they' re buying something that has natural flavoring, maybe that has sesame in it.
"I think there is enough evidence that it is as commonplace as Sicherer said. "Including it as part of our US law making makes perfect sense to me."
The FDA is asking for information, specifically from epidemiologists, nutritionists, allergy researchers and physicians, "so we can learn more about the prevalence and severity of sesame allergies in the US, as well as the prevalence of sesame-containing foods in this country. These include foods that, under current regulations, may not be required to disclose sesame as an ingredient. "
The agency also wants to hear from medical professionals, researchers, consumers and the food industry to get a fuller understanding of the risks and impacts of changing laws around its disclosure. Information on how can be found here.
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