Starting Wednesday, many chain restaurants across California will be required to clearly identify whether their menu items contain any of the nation’s most common food allergens. The new requirement comes under the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act, also known as Senate Bill 68. The law applies to restaurant chains with 20 or more locations nationwide that operate at least one restaurant in California. Under the law, covered restaurants must disclose whether menu items contain any of the “Big Nine” food allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soybeans, fish, shellfish and sesame.
The allergen information must be provided on printed menus, digital menus, menu boards or through another clearly accessible method available to customers before they order. Supporters of the law say the new labeling requirements will make dining out safer for the millions of people with food allergies by providing clearer information and helping them make informed choices. Smaller independent restaurants and chains with fewer than 20 locations nationwide are not required to comply with the new law.
Some places already do this. And if they really wanted to make it safer for millions, this new law would apply to all restaurants.
I had a waitress ask if anybody at our table had any food allergies.
That’s a good waitress. I’ve never been asked that.
I Agree! , … some places do.
Sometimes you would be surprised what item may be in a meal.
I’m sure I would be, Roz. I don’t know where I’ve been for the last how-many years, but I was recently surprised to learn they put high-fructose corn syrup in just about everything. That is some of the absolute worst stuff for a person.
We’ve spent a lot of time in Italy, and most (all?) restaurant menus list all of the allergens for each item on the menu.