Sesame Allergy Experts have estimated that sesame is becoming the 9th most common allergen behind dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and soy. Sesame seeds are available in three colors: white, brown and black. Sesame appears in foods as seeds, oil or paste and is used mainly in baking and concealed in other foods. Sesame oil is used extensively in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries because it has many desirable properties: It is stable, neutral, nonirritating, not too viscous, and heat- resistant, and has nonsweating effects. There has been a report claiming that sesame oil is less antigenic than cottonseed or peanut oil. However, sesame oil is usually a crude oil, not highly refined, and therefore may contain significant amounts of sesame protein. It may therefore be a problem to those who are sensitive to sesame. Anaphylaxis has been described to both sesame seed and sesame oil. Ground, the seed is used as flour, or as butter, known as "tahini". It can also be fermented into "tempeh", or ground into a powder and mixed with a sweetener to make "halva." The seeds can also be sprouted and used in salads. A special process produces a clear white seed that is common on hamburger buns. Cross-reactivity between allergens in sesame and allergens in other foods, including hazelnut, rye, kiwi, poppy seed, peanut, black walnut, cashew, macadamia, and pistachio, has been reported. Sesame is used in Asian cuisines frequently, but Americans are more likely to see sesame seeds on top of hamburger buns, hot dog buns and/or breads. A visit to McDonald’s can be disastrous with a sesame allergy! Chinese cuisine also uses sesame seeds extensively. Eating out with a sesame allergy is very dangerous because of the risk of cross contamination. Sesame seeds can “jump” easily from one plate to another. Sesame can show up in products that aren’t ingested, but used in lotions and shampoos. Read the labels on these products also. Contact allergies can cause severe reactions also. Symptoms of sesame allergy include hives, swelling, hay fever, asthma, rash, and nasal congestion. Depending on the severity of their reaction, these symptoms can become quite debilitating. Many people who suffer from sesame allergy do not even realize they are suffering from a form of allergy for quite some time. This may because they aren’t able to make the connection between the symptoms and the consumption of sesame. Sesame is also similar in chemical structure to peanut allergens, and this leaves individuals who suffer from sesame allergy with an increased risk for developing peanut allergies as well. There also appears to be some correlation between individuals who suffer from sesame allergy and rye, kiwi, and various treenut allergens (including walnut, hazelnut, and macadamia) as well. Food allergies can pose some unique challenges to those who have them. Please help us raise awareness and funds for more research.