Sesame Allergy

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In addition to the general information about food allergies, here are some issues that people with a sesame seed allergy should know about.

Sesame oil

People who are allergic to sesame seeds should also avoid sesame oil. Very few sesame oils on the market have been refined enough to remove the proteins that can trigger allergic reactions.

Read the labels

If you're allergic to sesame, the only way to avoid a reaction is to avoid all food and products that contain sesame and sesame derivatives. Don't eat a food or product if the label has precautionary statements such as "may contain sesame". Read ingredient lists carefully and learn to identify other names for sesame, such as tahini. Do not consume a food or product if there is no ingredient list or if there is a risk they might have been in contact with sesame. If there is not enough information to make a decision, you can always call to ask the company or speak to a knowledgeable person at a restaurant.

Sources of sesame

Other names for sesame seeds

• Benne, benne seed and benniseed
• Gingelly and gingelly oil
• Seeds
• Sesamol and sesamolina
• Sesamum indicum
• Sim sim
• Til

Food and products that contain or often contain sesame seeds

• Bread (for example, hamburger buns, multi-grains), bread crumbs and sticks, cereals, crackers, melba toast and muesli
• Dips and spreads, for example, hummus, chutney
• Ethnic foods, for example, flavoured rice, noodles, shish kebabs, stews and stir fries
• Sesame oil, sesame salt (gomasio)
• Tahina
• Tahini (sesame paste)
• Tempeh
• Vegetarian burgers

Other possible sources of sesame

• Some baked goods
• Dressings, gravies, marinades, salads, sauces and soups
• Herbs, seasonings, flavourings and spices
• Vegetable Pâtés
• Snack foods, for example, crackers, sesame snap bars
• Vegetable oil (may contain sesame oil)

Non-food sources of sesame seeds

• Adhesive bandages
• Cosmetics, hair care products, perfumes, soaps and sunscreens
• Drugs
• Fungicides and insecticides
• Lubricants, ointments and topical oils
• Pet food
• Sesame meal, for example, poultry and livestock feed

Where can I get more information?

For more information about food allergies:

• Consult an allergist.
• Refer to Health Canada’s Food Allergies web page
• Refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Food Allergens web page
• Sign up for the CFIA’s "Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts" email or RSS notification service
•  Order free copies of this brochure by calling 1-800-442-2342/TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday).
• Visit these organizations for additional allergy information:
  • Allergy/Asthma Information Association
  • Anaphylaxis Canada
  • Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires
  • Canadian Celiac Association
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency
  • Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
  • Fondation québécoise de la maladie coeliaque
  • Health Canada

This information was developed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada, in consultation with Allergy/Asthma Information Association, Anaphylaxis Canada, Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires, Canadian Celiac Association and the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

CFIA P0707E-10
Catalogue No.: A104-84/2010E
ISBN: 978-1-100-14805-2