Sesame is one of the 14 major allergens and must be declared on food packaging. Sesame is found in bread, pastries, hummus, tahini, Asian dishes, and many processed products. Here you can see which foods are classified as suitable or unsuitable with sesame allergy.
With Sesame Allergy, 203 foods are currently allowed and 65 foods are not recommended. Check all foods in the interactive tool above.
Most fresh foods are sesame-free: meat, fish, eggs, dairy, vegetables, fruit, legumes, rice, pasta, and most pure spices. Always check processed products for sesame labeling.
Sesame is often found in: bread rolls and bread with seeds, burger buns, crackers, muesli, hummus, tahini, Asian sauces and dishes, energy bars, some margarines, and salad dressings. Since 2023, sesame is a major allergen requiring labeling in the EU.
Sesame allergy is an immune reaction (IgE-mediated) that can lead to hives, breathing difficulties, or anaphylaxis. Sesame intolerance usually manifests as digestive issues without severe allergic reaction. Both require avoiding sesame-containing products.
Cold-pressed, unrefined sesame oil still contains proteins and can trigger severe allergic reactions. Highly refined sesame oil has a very low protein content, but is still considered risky with clinical sesame allergy. When in doubt, avoid it.
Sesame can be found in rolls, bread, hummus, tahini, Asian dishes, falafel, many baked goods, muesli, crackers, dressings, and sauces. In the EU, sesame is a mandatory allergen declaration.
Instead of sesame oil, you can use peanut oil, sunflower oil, or canola oil. As tahini alternatives, sunflower seed butter, cashew butter, or peanut butter are suitable - provided no other allergies exist.