Sesame Allergen Management Requirements
What are the requirements for controlling sesame allergens up until the new allergen law goes into effect in 2023?
We do not process any allergens in the facility, and the biggest and really only risk would be employees lunches. Should we add sesame to our allergen training? Are we required to add sesame to our allergen training?
I guess the other concern is chemicals and lubricants. should we start looking at that documentation now or should I give more time for manufacturers to start putting together statements for it?
I guess my question is are we required by law to treat sesame the same as peanuts and milk immediately, or only after 1/1/23?
Greetings John,
You can control it the same way as other allergens. The question is why not start now, and be ready for 2023? Or at least plan it out and prepare the transition from now, so you have all the documentation ready and just implement them when the time comes.
My opinion is that since food safety/consumer health are concerned you shouldn't wait and include it now in your training etc, because sesame won't become an allergen in 2023, it already is !!!
As a side note sesame is officially considered an allergen in Europe since 2011 (no attempt at comparison, just stating)!
Regards!
What are the requirements for controlling sesame allergens up until the new allergen law goes into effect in 2023?
We do not process any allergens in the facility, and the biggest and really only risk would be employees lunches. Should we add sesame to our allergen training? Are we required to add sesame to our allergen training?
I guess the other concern is chemicals and lubricants. should we start looking at that documentation now or should I give more time for manufacturers to start putting together statements for it?
I guess my question is are we required by law to treat sesame the same as peanuts and milk immediately, or only after 1/1/23?
Technically, you don't have to do anything until 1/1/2023. However like Evans X said - it isn't a bad idea to start now. At least gather documentation. If the company is international - they most likely have something in place for sesame.
We developed an Action Plan with timeline. We have started reviewing all new food ingredients we purchase for sesame as part of our Hazard Analysis, as many of our customers are working on packaging and products for 2023. We have also begun to request updated allergen documentation from all our suppliers of current ingredients and we are reviewing them to make sure no sesame is present so that we have confidence in those products as well. This review is documented. We have worked to make sure all products that contain sesame have a receiving label that states sesame as an allergen for storage purposes. Since we ship to Canada, we have done this for a long time. And we just did our first round of training on it. It is never to early to start!