ISNA NUTRITION RESEARCH COMMITTEE
MILK
EGGS
FISH
FROM TOP 8 TO TOP 9, Add Sesame to the List!
SHELLFISH PEANUTS
TREE NUTS
WHEAT
SOY
SESAME
BY KAITLYN SMITH DIETETIC INTERN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
fatal allergic reaction. Sesame reactions include hives, rash, itching, swelling in lips, tongue and mouth, nasal congestion, wheezing, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. How do you avoid sesame? Look out for items that contain sesame. Some items include: • Benne, benne seed, benniseed • Gingelly, gingelly oil • Gomasio (sesame salt) • Halvah
Historically there were 8 top allergens identified: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy. Add Sesame to the list! Sesame is the top 9th allergen now identified among children and adults in the United States. “More than 1.5 million Americans have a sesame allergy, more than five times the previous estimate” (Warren) . Sesame is the newest addition to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consume Protection act (FALCPA) since 2004 (USDA). Due to this increase in sesame allergies, a new law requires sesame labeling on food packages. What is an allergy? An allergy is an immune response to a typically harmless substance. The reaction first stimulates production of IgE (immunoglobulin E), which anchors to mast cells and basophils. Later exposure stimulates secretion of histamine and cytokines which initiate inflammation in the body. Lastly, the most severe, anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock is a potentially
• Sesame flour • Sesame oil* • Sesame paste
• Sesame salt • Sesame seed • Sesamol • Sesamum indicum • Sesemolina • Sim sim • Tahini, Tahina, Tehina • Til
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