Aug. 28, 2019&mdash;More than a million U.S. children and adults may be allergic to sesame. This estimate comes from a new study about the ingredient&mdash;and the possibility of labeling foods that contain it.

How common is the allergy? 

Researchers surveyed more than 50,000 U.S. homes, asking detailed questions about suspected food allergies. They gathered information about nearly 80,000 children and adults.

Altogether, 0.49% of those surveyed reported a current sesame allergy. That may sound like a small number, but if true, it adds up to more than 1.5 million children and adults in the U.S. 

Because self-reported allergies may not always be accurate, researchers also asked about the symptoms people had and whether they'd been diagnosed by a doctor. Overall, 0.23% of people had experienced serious symptoms when exposed to sesame, such as vomiting, hives or digestive symptoms. An additional 0.11% hadn't experienced those symptoms, but they had received a diagnosis from a doctor based on allergy testing. Combined, that's strong evidence that about 1.1 million people in the U.S. may be affected by a sesame allergy. 

The study appeared in the journal <a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2740786">JAMA Open</a>.

Does it warrant a warning? 

This study was part of a call to research by the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.netreturns.biz/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=fda">U.S. Food and Drug Administration</a> (FDA), which regulates how allergens are labeled on food packaging. FDA currently requires that eight foods include a warning:
<ul>
 <li>Eggs.</li>
 <li>Fin fish.</li>
 <li>Milk.</li>
 <li>Peanuts.</li>
 <li>Shellfish.</li>
 <li>Soy.</li>
 <li>Tree nuts.</li>
 <li>Wheat.</li>
</ul>
But sesame is a commonly regulated food allergen in places like Australia, Canada, Europe and New Zealand. In the U.S., sesame is often listed as "flavors" or "tahini," which can make it tricky for consumers to identify on product labels. Based on the results of this study and other data, FDA may consider regulating it in the U.S. too.

Understanding food allergies 

Food allergies can be a complex puzzle. <a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/Story.aspx?StoryID=59caef5d-8ec5-4d82-859e-c8e4d736193c#.XWA-mntlBhE">Learn more with this guide.</a>

Sesame allergies are more common than you may think