Sift with Judy
A dietitian’s selection of curated products that nourish the mind, body and soul
Judy Seybold, MS, RDN, LD, CLC
Chief Nutrition Officer
Searching for Sesame-Free Hummus
In 2021, the FASTER Act was signed into law, adding sesame as the ninth food to be considered a major food allergen, joining milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. This is great news for the growing number of Americans who are allergic to sesame. According to some experts, the increase in sesame sensitivity may be due to more people consuming sesame seeds, paste, powder, and oil.
These tiny, oil-rich seeds, which contribute dietary fiber and plant protein, are used in cuisines around the world. Sesame adds a nutty taste and delicate crunch to many Asian dishes. They are also the main ingredient in tahini (sesame seed paste), halvah (a Middle Eastern sweet), and sesame oil, and frequently serve as a topping for breads, crackers, and some hamburger buns. Traces of sesame can be found in oils, condiments, and even spices.
Starting in 2023, if a food has sesame, it will be mandatory to indicate this as part of the allergen statement on the product label. In the meantime, read labels carefully – keep an eye out for ingredients that could be sesame-based, like tahini, and other words for sesame, such as "til" or "sim sim" – or ask the manufacturer. When shopping on Sifter.shop, look for the SiftTag “Sesame – None.” When you select this SiftTag, we make it easy by filtering out products with sesame or sesame-derived ingredients as assessed on the ingredient line, including flavors and spices. On a positive note, recent studies have shown most people with protein allergies (like sesame) can safely eat oils that are very highly refined because the protein is removed during the refining process.
If you have allergies, find alternative ingredients. Consult with your healthcare professional if you need additional information. Now, let’s use Sifter to find hummus-type spreads without sesame. Start by clicking on Browse Products:
- Select Aisles and scroll down to Deli
- Then select Dips, Hummus & Spreads
- From there, sift further by selecting Hummus
- To find the "sesame free" hummus, select Allergens & Concerns
- Then select Sesame - None, which matches about a dozen products with no sesame
Tip: You can always create a MyDiet Profile to ensure that all products you are searching will be sesame-free.
updated February 2022
Sifter can help you find more products free from sesame. Start here→
