Sesame in Australia and New Zealand: label rules and introduction guidance

Is sesame on the FSANZ allergen list?

'Sesame' is the required name, so tahini, sesame oil and sesame seeds all lead to 'sesame' in bold in the ingredient list and in the summary statement. For food not required to carry a label, such as a sandwich from a café, the sesame declaration must be displayed with the food or provided to you on request, using the same required name. Precautionary lines such as 'may contain sesame' are voluntary and sit outside the Code, so their absence does not tell you anything on its own.

Standard 1.2.3 and Schedule 9 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code require allergens to be declared using set 'required names'. Under the Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) rules in force since 25 February 2024, each allergen appears in bold in the statement of ingredients and again in a bold summary statement beginning with 'Contains', placed next to the ingredients. Food labelled before that date under the old rules could stay on sale until 25 February 2026. 'May contain' statements are voluntary and not regulated by the Code.

• FSANZ: Allergen labelling for food businesses

What ASCIA guidance says about introducing sesame

ASCIA's Recommendation 5 names sesame among the common food allergens parents should introduce in the first year of life, prioritising foods in the family's usual diet, with a very low evidence rating. Sesame is listed in ASCIA's definition of common food allergens for Australia and New Zealand. Once sesame is in, Recommendation 9 says to keep offering it at least once a week unless there has been an allergic reaction. Smooth tahini is one easy form to stir into a food your baby already eats. Your doctor can advise if your baby has eczema or another allergy.

ASCIA, the peak professional body of clinical immunology and allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand, published its updated Guideline: Infant Feeding for Food Allergy Prevention in 2026. It recommends starting solids when your baby shows signs of developmental readiness, usually around 6 months and not before 4 months, introducing only one new common allergen at a meal, and continuing to offer each allergen at least once a week once it is in, unless there has been an allergic reaction.

• ASCIA Guideline: Infant Feeding for Food Allergy Prevention (2026), summary of recommendations

Logging sesame in the app

Set your region to Australia / New Zealand and the app's allergen schedule follows the FSANZ list. In the schedule, sesame appears as Sesame. Each allergen entry moves from not started to introduced, cleared or reaction, and the 14-day window keeps new foods spaced out so a delayed reaction is easier to match to a food. Note the form, such as tahini stirred into a purée, so you can repeat the same food later. If you see a symptom, log it with its severity; the paediatrician report gathers the dates into one PDF for your next appointment. It is a record for you and your doctor, not a diagnosis.