A sesame allergy law has made it harder to avoid the seed. Here's why

An estimated 1.6 million people in the U.S. are allergic to sesame seeds and flour. (Sergey Verin /Getty Images)

For years, people with sesame seed allergies have been vulnerable to allergic reactions from accidental exposures, in part, because sesame wasn't always listed on ingredient labels. For example, sesame may have been included in a spice blend, and labeled only as "spice."

"Sesame was hidden in words like 'spices' or 'tahini'," which is sesame paste, says Priscilla Hernandez, whose son Zacky, 11, has a sesame allergy.