Giving Baby Sesame Foods -
Sesame Allergy Information

If you're unsure about giving baby sesame foods such as hummus and tahini, then this page will help you understand more about infant sesame allergy and the potential risks to your baby.

PLEASE NOTE: The information given here is meant as a guide. It does not replace professional medical advice. You should always discuss the introduction of any new foods with your child's doctor.

Giving baby sesame foods - what is a sesame allergy?

Sesame seeds come from the seed pods of the sesame plant. Some people experience a severe reaction to the protein found in sesame seeds and their derivatives.

Over recent decades, worldwide reports of allergic reactions to sesame seeds have greatly increased. The reason for this is not yet clear, but could be because

sesame seeds are becoming more widely used across the world
the rate of diagnosis and reporting of sesame allergy has improved
more people are developing sensitivities to sesame foods

Allergy to sesame seeds is now the 9th most common food allergy worldwide.

This has prompted the European Commission and Canada to add sesame to their lists of major food allergens for labelling purposes. This means that manufacturers must clearly indiacate the presence of sesame in their products in these countries.

The US FDA, however, has not followed suit - so Americans suffering from sesame allergies have a hard time establishing which foods are safe for them to eat.

The rates of sesame allergy among children are particularly high...

...ranking 4th in Australia, behind egg, milk and peanut allergies and 3rd in Israel, where sesame foods like halva and tahini are popular and are often recommended for babies because of their high protein and iron content.

Giving baby sesame foods - what are the risks?

An allergy to sesame can provoke a very severe allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock or allergic shock, which can be fatal.

Your baby is at a higher risk of experiencing an allergic reaction to sesame if he is

under a year old
if there is a family history of food allergy
if he suffers from atopic dermatitis, or if there is a family history of atopic dermatitis

What is the connection between sesame allergy and atopic dermatitis?

Recent studies in Israel evaluated 10 patients with sesame allergies. Researchers noticed that ALL these patients (70% of whom were under 2 years old) were suffering from atopic dermatitis. It had already been established that infants with this condition are more prone to food allergy than would normally be expected - but this high rate of allergy to sesame seeds prompted researchers to recommend that sesame seeds should be eliminated from the diets of all infants with - or with a family history of - atopic dermatitis.

Giving baby sesame foods - what are the symptoms of sesame allergy?

An allergy to sesame seeds can cause any of the typical food allergy symptoms, including

vomiting
nausea
diarrhea
stomach cramps
hives
skin rash
headaches
wheezing
sneezing
congestion
coughing
runny nose

If your baby displays ANY of these symptoms after eating foods containing sesame seeds or oil - however mild the reaction - you should seek medical advice at once. A future reaction could be a lot more severe.

Giving baby sesame foods - how is sesame allergy diagnosed?

If you suspect that your baby has a sesame allergy, you should discuss this with your doctor. Some experts feel that the typical "skin prick test" is not reliable for spotting allergies to sesame and that cases have been misdiagnosed. They recommend that infants with suspected sesame allergies are referred to specialist allergy clinics, which are equipped to undertake food challenges in addition to the skin prick tests.

Giving baby sesame foods - alternative names for sesame

If you are trying to avoid sesame foods in your baby's diet, then it's important to note the other names by which sesame is known...

sesamum indicum
benne/benneseed/benniseed
gingelly/gingilly oil
til/teel
sim sim
anjonjoli
flavouring
seeds
sesamol/sesamolina
tahina/tahini/tehini
vegetable oil (can contain sesame oil)

Giving baby sesame foods - list of foods and products containing sesame

If your baby is diagnosed with a sesame allergy, you should be provided with a list of foods and products to avoid.

Sesame seeds and oil are used in the food industry (mainly for baking), the cosmetics industry and the pharmaceutical industry. Unfortunately, cross contamination can occur when sesame seed products are made on the same line as non-sesame seed products.

You also need to take great care if you dine out with your baby, as sesame seeds can very easily "jump" from one plate to another.

It is also important to note that sesame oil is made by cold pressing (squeezing) the seeds. It is not refined and can contain the proteins responsible for allergic reactions.

Heating sesame foods does not reduce their allergenicity.

Items containing sesame include

bread
biscuits/cookies
salads/salad dressings
sauces
dips
hummus/houmous
tahini/tehini/tahina
halva
muesli
breaded foods
gomashio
processed meats/sausages
tempeh
soups
snack foods
crackers
vegeburgers
stir fries
cereals
poultry
chutneys
risottos
the herbal drink Aqua Libra
band-aids/plasters
liniments
ointments
soaps
sunscreen
hair products
fungicides
insecticides

Can babies eat hummus?

Some recipes for hummus call for tahini (ground sesame seeds). However, many Middle Eastern recipes do not require tahini and are perfectly tasty without it.

Visit our hummus for baby recipe on our blog, for a tahini-free version - perfect if you would prefer to avoid sesame in your baby's diet.

My baby is allergic to sesame seeds - what else might he be allergic to?

People who suffer from sesame allergies may also react to

poppy seeds
kiwi fruit
rye
hazelnuts
caraway seeds
sunflower seeds
flax seeds

If your baby is diagnosed with a sesame allergy, then his allergist may advise avoiding all seeds.

Will my baby outgrow his sesame seed allergy?

This is unclear. It seems that some children DO outgrow their allergies to sesame, but the true figures are unknown.

Giving your baby sesame foods - recommendations

Recommendations for the timing of introducing sesame to babies vary around the world. In the UK, for example, the Food Standards Agency suggests offering sesame from 6 months of age (although whole seeds should NEVER be offered to a young baby, due to the risk of choking). In the US, some pediatricians will recommend giving ground sesame seeds from 8 months of age - others suggest waiting until baby is at least a year old!

Allergic reactions to sesame can be so severe, however, that some experts believe sesame seeds should be treated in the same way as tree nuts and avoided until baby is at least 3 years old.

If you are considering including sesame in your baby's diet, then discuss this with your child's doctor, who will take into account your family history of food allergy and atopic dermatitis when helping you with this decision.

Following a sesame-free diet

If your baby has a sesame allergy which has led to the elimination of many foods from his diet, it is important to discuss his nutritional needs with a dietitian. This is because sesame seeds contain