Anyone dining out in California will soon notice a major change to menus.
California’s Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act (ADDE) has officially taken effect, calling for restaurants and food facilities with 20 or more locations nationwide to clearly list major allergens on the menu.
Restaurants will be required to “provide written notification of the major food allergens that the food facility knows or reasonably should know are contained as an ingredient in each menu item, either directly on its menu or in a digital format.”
California will become the first state in the nation to require the rundown.
The law mandates that any known allergens be listed in each dish’s description or through a QR code that customers can scan.
Restaurant chains have until July 1, 2026, to implement the new changes and add to menus.
In particular, the “Big 9” major food allergens need to be listed: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame.
AADE was inspired by and named for Addie Lao, a 9-year-old who has been advocating for the law with her mother, Robyn Lao.
Addie — who is allergic to dairy, peanuts, tree nuts and sesame — explained to Allergic Living in October that the idea for the bill came after she dined at a restaurant where allergens were voluntary displayed, and she thought that should be a requirement for all restaurants.
“The ADDE bill is so important so adults and kids like me can eat safely,” Addie told the outlet. “I learned that even though I’m just a kid, I can make a big difference,” Addie said.
“SB 68 is a crucial first step toward a culture of food allergy safety that will save lives and empower families like ours to dine out,” Robyn added.
According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), an estimated 33 million Americans have at least one food allergy, which breaks down to about one in 10 adults and one in 13 children.
“Soon, the millions of Californians with food allergies, many of whom are young children, will be able to fully enjoy dining out without fear or apprehension at these qualifying restaurants,” California State Sen. Caroline Menjivar said when the bill passed in the Legislature, per ABC News.
“In turn, these businesses will be able to offer allergen families a unique additional assurance that will drive customers to their establishments.”
However, the California Restaurant Association has previously argued that the new law will be a burden to some businesses, noting that it could lead to “predatory laws,” ABC News reported in October.
“We continue to assess the impacts to those members of ours still subject to the proposed law and are working with them to determine if a change in position is warranted,” CEO Jot Condie said in a statement at the time.
Meanwhile, FARE said the bill is a “meaningful step” to protect those living with food allergies.
