Apr 24, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Biden signs law naming sesame the ninth major food allergen

Oriana González

Joe Biden — Photo: Bloomberg / Getty Images

President Biden signed into law a bill that names sesame the ninth major food allergen and increases research to address growth in deadly allergies.

Why it matters: The number of life-threatening childhood food allergies has increased 4% annually since 1997, and hospital emergency room visits for food allergy-induced anaphylaxis have tripled in the last decade, according to research from Northwestern University, McKinsey & Company, Global Strategy Group and Food Allergy Research and Education.

More than 1.5 million people in the U.S. have sesame allergies, according to FARE.

Details: The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research Act of 2021 will require that foods containing sesame be clearly labeled by January 2023.

The Department of Health and Human Services will also be required to report to the House its research on food allergens.

The big picture: The legislation received bipartisan support from both chambers. It passed the Senate in March and the House this month, The Washington Post reports.

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Biden signs law naming sesame the ninth major food allergen

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