On Friday, President Biden signed into law the College-supported H.R. 1202 “Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act of 2021” (FASTER Act). The Act adds sesame to the list of foods that manufacturers must identify on prepackaged labels – a victory for the allergy community. We congratulate all of the organizations who worked to get this done.
This law makes sesame the ninth allergen that must be identified on prepackaged foods. The law takes effect in 2023, but some manufacturers have already begun to identify sesame on their labels.
The new law also has broader implications for food allergies. It requires that the Secretary of Health and Human Services compile a wide-ranging report on food allergies, including policies, prevention and treatment, within the next 18 months. It also calls for “a regulatory process and framework” to determine a food as a “major food allergen” to be added to the list in the future.
The College applauds this victory on behalf of our food allergy patients. Thank you to all of our members who contacted their representatives in Congress to advocate for this legislation.
