Carroll Bill Ensures Accurate Food Labeling Helping Prevent Fatal Allergies

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Food labels would be required to show sesame ingredients on packages as a result of legislation being sponsored by state Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook, which will help prevent serious allergies from occurring.

“Food allergies are a common issue in Illinois and people need to know what is in the food they purchase,” Carroll said. “Improper or incomplete labeling can have disastrous or even deadly consequences, and consumers should have all the information on hand when they buy their groceries.”

Carroll is working to update food labeling by requiring sesame products be included on the packaging. Currently, other notable spices, flavoring and colorings are to be printed on the labels, but sesame is not required by law to be included. Carroll’s bill amends that by including it to the list of items that are mandated to be labeled.

According to the organization Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), up to 15 million Americans and 1 in 13 American children have a food allergy. Carroll backed legislation last year to require the posting of allergens and practices to prevent cross-contamination in food processing facilities. Additionally, a new law sponsored by Carroll enforces stricter food processing requirements for mental health facilities.

“This issue is personal for me as I have a child who lives with a food allergy, and I have to take extra care to buy the right food in order to prevent a health issue from happening,” said Carroll. “This bill would protect consumers and their families by making sure they have all the information about what they are buying.”

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