UK allergen
Sesame allergy eating out in the UK
Sesame is one of the 14 allergens. It is also the ingredient behind Natasha’s Law: a full ingredients list on food packed before you choose it. A plate cooked to order still depends on the kitchen telling you the truth about oil, seeds and tahini.
Seeds, oil and tahini
Sesame seeds on a burger bun are the visible form. Tahini, hummus, halva, sesame oil and a sprinkle of seeds over a salad are the ones that move into dishes that do not look like a bun. Breadsticks, crackers and some spice mixes carry seeds too. In a bakery, seeds fall onto boards and other loaves.
If your reactions are to small amounts, the bun on the next plate and the oil in a dressing both matter. Ask about oil and garnishes, not only about whether you can have the burger without the top.
Natasha’s Law started with sesame
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died in 2016 after eating a baguette that contained sesame which was not declared on the label. Natasha’s Law, in force from 1 October 2021, requires a full ingredients list with the 14 allergens emphasised on food that is prepacked for direct sale. Sesame on a sandwich packed in the shop before you choose it is exactly the situation that labelling change was built for.
A meal cooked to order is not prepacked for direct sale. The kitchen still has to tell you whether sesame is in the food. The law does not, by itself, make a restaurant grill safe. You still ask about oil, hummus and seeds, and you still decide based on the answer.
Using a card
Sesame is one of the 14, and it is also easy to under-specify as “seeds”. Say sesame, tahini and sesame oil. A sample of the SafePlate chef card is public. Filling in your own card, then showing or printing it, is part of SafePlate Plus. The card is in many languages, and some are marked beta, please double-check. It is a communication aid, not a medical document, and the kitchen still has to check the food.
The allergy score for sesame stays unknown until a menu or a visitor note mentions it. A hygiene rating will not mention it either.
What to ask about sesame
- Is there sesame seed, tahini, hummus or sesame oil in this dish?
- Are seeds used on the bun, the bread or a neighbouring bake that shares a board?
- Can you change gloves, boards or pans if sesame was just handled?
- If this was packed earlier, is sesame emphasised on the ingredients list?
- Is “seeds” on the menu actually sesame?
Search with sesame on your profile
Add sesame, then search. You can preview the chef card on its page. Writing your own foods onto it, to show or print, needs SafePlate Plus. Read the ingredients on anything packed before you chose it.
Questions people ask
Does Natasha’s Law apply to a restaurant meal?
It applies to food packed on the premises before the customer selects it, such as a filled baguette made earlier for the fridge. A plate cooked after you order needs allergen information as well, but that can be given verbally. Sesame still has to be disclosed when it is an ingredient.
Is hummus always sesame?
Classic hummus contains tahini, which is sesame paste. Recipes vary, and some are made without it. Ask about the hummus in that kitchen. Do not assume a chickpea dip is sesame-free.
How do I search with a sesame allergy?
Add sesame to your profile and search the city. Many results will be Unknown. That is a prompt to ask about oil and tahini, not a sign that the food is clear.
Set up your foods before you search. This is not medical advice. Confirm the meal with the kitchen. If you think someone is having anaphylaxis, call 999.