Major food brands are adding sesame to items in 'shortcut' after FDA declares the seed a 'major allergen'
Fox News
The FDA declared sesame a major allergen in the U.S., yet some food brands and manufacturers are taking an 'economic shortcut' by adding more sesame to their food, says FARE's Jason Linde.
Whether it’s sesame seeds on a bagel or sesame flour in baked goods, allergist and immunologist Dr. Purvi Parikh shared with Fox News Digital that sesame as an ingredient can be life-threatening to some. "We have updated our allergen guide accordingly and are sharing this information with our guests." "We take food safety and allergen matters very seriously." The spokesperson reiterated that it’s an "industry-wide matter" as brands source from multiple suppliers across the nation. "They decided that they would comply by taking, frankly, a regulatory shortcut." "What we can't understand is why a bakery in Toronto can somehow magically remove sesame, yet a bakery in Tennessee just can't." "The easiest fix is for the bakers to realize they've made a strategic mistake and say, ‘We want to serve this community.'" Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital.
"It's in so many foods," said New York-based Parikh. "It's often a subtle allergen that many people may not realize, but it can be life-threatening."