On Sept. 8, 2025, the California Meeting handed SB 68 – the Allergen Disclosure for Eating Experiences (ADDE) Act. As at present amended, the invoice would require California eating places with 20 or extra areas to reveal the “High 9” allergens on their menus. The invoice is anticipated to go the California Senate shortly and head to Governor Newsom for signature.
AAFA co-sponsored the laws alongside Robyn and Addie Lao. The invoice confronted early opposition however shortly gained help from a whole bunch of people, medical organizations, affected person advocates, and eating places. Dozens of kids and teenagers joined the advocacy by visiting Sacramento in individual to share their testimony of help for ADDE Act.
“With meals allergic reactions affecting extra folks annually, the ADDE Act’s easy menu disclosure requirement can stop doubtlessly harmful allergic reactions and save lives. Thousands and thousands of Californians have meals allergic reactions,” stated Kenneth Mendez, President and CEO of AAFA. “The ADDE Act would require easy, written disclosure of the highest 9 meals allergens for all eating places with 20 or extra restaurant areas. Comparable laws is in place within the European Union and has been since 2014. Allergen disclosure works – it helps present a greater eating expertise for folks with meals allergic reactions and reduces the incidence of meals allergy reactions. Not solely does this regulation present a degree of safety for diners, it additionally helps eating places entice loyal clients. The laws is a win-win for California households and eating places. We anticipate that this invoice is a primary step for meals allergen labeling in eating places, because it at present will solely influence chain eating places with 20 or extra areas. We urge Governor Newsom to signal this monumental invoice that may assist change the tradition in California to be inclusive for folks with meals allergic reactions.”
If signed into regulation, will probably be the primary of its variety within the nation and can assist set priority for different states to observe. The transfer will make eating out extra accessible for the 20 million folks in the USA with meals allergic reactions.
AAFA thanks Robyn and Addie and the meals allergy neighborhood for making your voices heard on this essential difficulty!
