There are seven allergens associated with sesame allergy.

2 are 2S seed storage proteins, 1 is a 7S seed storage protein and 2 are 11S seed storage proteins. Seed storage proteins are generally linked to tree nut, peanut and seed allergies.

The last two allergens are oleosin proteins, which are found in parts of plants with a high oil content.

Many allergenic proteins are broken down with heat and processing, this is not the case with seed storage proteins, so sesame oil which is made from ground and processed sesame seeds still has the potential to cause allergic reactions.

Sesame seeds and peanuts contain many of the same allergenic proteins, so cross reactivity is a possibility.

Sesame allergy is not currently linked to any allergic syndromes.

Other food containing 2S albumin seed storage proteins are cashews, peanuts, almonds, mustard seed, rapeseed, turnip, chickpeas, hazelnuts, pistachio, buckwheat, soya beans, sunflower seeds, brazil nuts, kiwi, castor beans and walnuts.

There is a lot of cross reactivity between 2S and 11S seed storage proteins, the only other food containing 11S proteins not mentioned above is pumpkin.

Other foods containing vicilin-like (7S seed storage) proteins not mentioned in the list above are lupin, lentils, macadamia nuts, peas and mung bean.

Oleosin proteins are also found in peanuts and hazelnuts and are already mentioned as cross reacting with other proteins found in sesame.

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