FDA issues revised guidance on labeling of certain beers to add sesame as a major food allergen

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a revised guidance “Labeling of Certain Beers Subject to the Labeling Jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration” to add sesame to the list of major food allergens that are part of mandatory label information that must appear on the label, in addition to other minor changes. Sesame joined the list of major food allergens defined by law as the result of the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act, which was signed into law April 23, 2021.

This guidance is one of three guidance documents that have been revised to add “sesame” to the list of major food allergens for labeling purposes. The other two are “Guidance for Industry: Labeling of Infant Formula,” and “Guidance for Industry: Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Foods-Third Edition,” both of which were issued in March 2023. The dates of previous editions can be found at the end of each guidance.