I met with the FDA yesterday about my petition to have sesame seeds regulated on food labels the same way as nuts. It was a good meeting and they were very receptive. But I still need your help (more below on exactly what you can do). They did not give us a response on the spot – that’s not how it works. It will take some time before we get our formal response. However, I’m optimistic that they will do the right thing eventually. But we need to continue to send them info to make it even easier for them to make the right decision. One thing they said they need is some hard data that can help them quantify how large the scope of this problem is. In order for them to get the necessary internal approvals to devote appropriate resources to fixing the problem, we need to demonstrate with facts (not anecdotes) that it is a big enough problem to merit using the government FDA resources. So we need to provide them with hard data showing the scope of the problem. Here’s some examples of what we’ve sent them already: • Certain data available online, including studies about the scope and extent of sesame allergies in the US (about 500,000 people, or about 0.1% of the population, and growing) • A list of pseudonyms and uncommon names for sesame, under which it might be listed on an ingredient label, but still be hard to identify as sesame • All the signatures on my petition • All the “comments” from my petition Here’s how you can help: We still need to send more data -- any other data about the scope and extent of sesame allergies, or demonstrating the extent of the problem (particularly if backed up with source attribution). This is not limited to numbers like “500,000 people in the US have sesame allergies”. It can also include other data that shows how much of a problem it is by not labeling it correctly. The FDA is not only interested in raw numbers of people with the allergy, but also in seeing how confusing the current regime is. For example, even if 10 million people have sesame allergies, but the labels are clear enough, then there’s no problem. But by sending lists of products that are silent on the label, but in fact contain sesame or are made on the same equipment as sesame, the longer this list, the bigger the problem. I need your help compiling as long and comprehensive a list as possible. So here’s what I need from you: • A list of products and brands you know of that contain sesame, even though the label does not adequately disclose this (it does not disclose sesame at all, or discloses them under some other confusing name, such as tahini, hummus, spices, natural flavorings, etc.) • The same list, but for products made on shared equipment or in the same facility with sesame, without adequate disclosure • Any other data you might have access to which can demonstrate how big is the problem currently You can send any info to me directly at briheller@aol.com Thank You: Thank you so much to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) for taking the lead in arranging this meeting and lobbying on our behalf on this issue. http://www.cspinet.org/new/201411181.html Thank you for the FDA for taking the time to listen. And Thanks to each and every one of you for your help and support. All the Best Brian H