About
White sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum) are small, hull-removed oilseeds from the sesame plant, widely used as a topping, in tahini, and as a culinary flavouring ingredient across global cuisines. They are naturally rich in unsaturated fats, proteins, fibre, calcium, and bioactive lignans (sesamin, sesamolin), making them both a nutritive food and a functional ingredient.
Safety summary
White sesame seeds are safe and nutritious for the general population with no established ADI, as they are a whole food rather than a food additive. However, sesame is a recognised major food allergen in the US (since January 1, 2023 under the FASTER Act), EU, Canada, Australia, and many other jurisdictions, with allergic reactions ranging from mild urticaria to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Mycotoxin contamination (particularly aflatoxins) and Salmonella are documented food safety hazards in the global sesame supply chain.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia) | Approved | Sesame seeds and sesame products are listed as mandatory declaration allergens under Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, Standard 1.2.3 – Mandatory Warning and Advisory Statements and Declarations. Approved as a food ingredient with no maximum use level.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Sesame seeds and products thereof are listed as a mandatory declared allergen under Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers. Approved as a food ingredient with no maximum use level; allergen declaration is compulsory regardless of quantity.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Sesame seeds are recognised as a food ingredient under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Specific compositional standards exist for sesame (til) oil; Sesamum indicum is listed in the FSSAI nutraceutical schedule (Schedule I). Til oil from white sesame seeds grown in Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal requires mandatory AGMARK certification under FSS (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. India has not yet implemented mandatory sesame-specific allergen labelling equivalent to the US or EU.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FDA. Voluntary Disclosure of Sesame as an Allergen: Guidance for Industry. fda.gov
- 2PubMed. Food safety issues associated with sesame seed value chains: Current status and future perspectives, 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 – Chapter 2.2: Fats, Oils and Fat Emulsions (Version 1, September 2023), 2023. fssai.gov.in
- 4FDA. Food Allergies – Sesame and the FASTER Act, 2023. fda.gov
- 5FDA. FDA Reminds Manufacturers of Effective Date for Sesame as a Major Food Allergen, 2022. fda.gov
