Editing Sesame (section)

== Possible harms ==

=== Allergy ===

{{main|Sesame allergy}}

Sesame can trigger the same [[allergic reaction]]s, including [[anaphylaxis]], as seen with other [[food allergy |food allergens]].<ref name="adatia">{{cite journal |last1=Adatia |first1=A |last2=Clarke |first2=AE |last3=Yanishevsky |first3=Y |last4=Ben-Shoshan |first4=M |title=Sesame allergy: current perspectives (Review) |journal=Journal of Asthma and Allergy |volume=10 |year=2017 |pmid=28490893 |pmc=5414576 |doi=10.2147/JAA.S113612 |pages=141–151 |doi-access=free }}</ref> A cross-reactivity exists between sesame and peanuts, hazelnuts and almonds.<ref name=adatia/><ref name="vwh">{{cite web |url=http://allergies.about.com/od/otherfoodallergies/a/sesameallergy.htm |title=Sesame seed allergy and cross-reactivity |publisher=VeryWell Health |date=4 October 2020 |access-date=7 October 2020 |archive-date=17 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717105804/http://allergies.about.com/od/otherfoodallergies/a/sesameallergy.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition to food products derived from sesame seeds, such as ''[[tahini]]'' and sesame oil, persons with sesame allergies are encouraged to be aware of foods that may contain sesame, such as baked goods.<ref name=adatia/><ref name=vwh/><ref name="hc">{{cite web |title=Sesame - A priority food allergen |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/reports-publications/food-safety/sesame-priority-food-allergen.html |publisher=Health Canada, Government of Canada |date=2017 |access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref> In addition to food sources, individuals allergic to sesame have been warned that a variety of non-food sources may also trigger a reaction to sesame, including [[cosmetics]] and skin-care products.<ref name=hc/>

Prevalence of sesame allergy is on the order of 0.1–0.2%, but higher in countries in the Middle East and Asia where consumption is more common as part of traditional diets.<ref name=adatia/> In the United States, sesame allergy possibly affects 1.5 million individuals.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news |first=Minali |last=Nigam |title=1.5 million people in the US might have sesame allergies |work=CNN |date=5 August 2019 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/05/health/sesame-allergy-us-study/index.html?no-st=1569530150 |access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(10)00575-0/fulltext |title=US prevalence of peanut and sesame allergy |journal =Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology |volume=125 |issue=6 |pages=1322–1326 |doi=10.1016/j.jaci.2010.03.029 |pmid=20462634 |date=June 2010 |last1=Sicherer |first1=Scott H. |last2=Muñoz-Furlong |first2=Anne |last3=Godbold |first3=James H. |last4=Sampson |first4=Hugh A. |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Canada requires sesame to be labelled as an allergen.<ref name=hc/> In the [[European Union]], identifying the presence of sesame, along with 13 other foods, either as an ingredient or an unintended contaminant in packaged food is compulsory.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regulation (EG) 1169/2011 (Annex II) |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32011R1169 |publisher=Eur-Lex - European Union Law, European Union |date=25 October 2011 |access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref> In the United States, the FASTER Act mandated labeling<ref name=SesameLaw2021>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/578/text |title=Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021 or the FASTER Act of 2021 |date=4 April 2021 |website=Congress.gov |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> from 2023.<ref name="FARE">{{cite web |url=https://www.foodallergy.org/living-food-allergies/food-allergy-essentials/common-allergens/sesame |title=Sesame Allergy |website=FARE |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="AANetwork">{{cite web |url=https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/news/sesame-the-9th-food-allergen/ |title=Sesame Allergy and Food Labels |website=Allergy & Asthma Network |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref>

=== Contamination ===

Contamination by ''[[Salmonella]]'', ''[[E.coli]]'', [[pesticide]]s, or other [[pathogen]]s may occur in large batches of sesame seeds, such as in September 2020 when high levels of a common industrial compound, [[ethylene oxide]], was found in a 250-[[tonne]] shipment of sesame seeds from India.<ref name="fsn-20">{{Cite web |first=Joe |last=Whitworth |title=EU toughens rules for sesame seeds from India |url=https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2020/09/multi-country-recalls-due-to-ethylene-oxide-in-sesame-seeds/ |publisher=Food Safety News |date=30 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="conn">{{cite news |first=Hannah |last=Thompson |title=France recalls sesame seed products due to toxic pesticide |url=https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/France-recalls-sesame-seed-products-due-to-toxic-pesticide-ethylene-oxide |access-date=28 November 2020 |work=The Connexion |date=4 November 2020}}</ref> After detection in Belgium, [[product recall |recalls]] for dozens of products and stores were issued across the [[European Union]], totaling some 50 countries.<ref name=fsn-20/><ref name=conn/> Products with an [[organic certification]] were also affected by the contamination.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fsai.ie/news_centre/food_alerts/Source_Bulk_Sesame.html |title=Recall of Organic Sesame Seeds and Organic Omega Seed Mix From The Source Bulk Foods, Rathmines, Due to the Presence of the Unauthorised Pesticide Ethylene Oxide |website=www.fsai.ie}}</ref> Regular governmental food inspection for sesame contamination, as for ''Salmonella'' and ''E. coli'' in [[tahini]], [[hummus]] or seeds, has found that poor hygiene practices during processing are common sources and routes of contamination.<ref>{{cite web |title=2011-2012 Salmonella and generic E. coli in tahini and sesame seeds |url=https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food-safety-for-industry/food-chemistry-and-microbiology/microbiology/salmonella-and-generic-e-coli-in-tahini-and-sesame/eng/1430919620350/1430919620865 |publisher=Canadian Food Inspection Agency |access-date=28 November 2020 |date=4 September 2018}}</ref>