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RESTAURANTS and FOOD ALLERGIES
Massachusetts Restaurant Bill Signed Into Law by Governor Patrick!
Senate Bill 2701, sponsored by Senator Steven Panagiotakos, was signed into law by Governor Patrick on January 15, 2009. This landmark legislation, the first of its kind in the U.S., calls on restaurants in Massachusetts to:
- display a food allergy awareness poster in the restaurant staff area
- place a notice on menus of the customer’s obligation to inform the server about any food allergies
- train food protection managers and persons in charge of restaurants on food allergy issues
The Massachusetts legislation also allows restaurants to earn a "Food Allergy Friendly" designation from the Department of Public Health.
New York City Council Approves Food Allergy Awareness Posters for Restaurants
The New York City Council has approved a proposal to require posters with information on food allergy to be placed in food service establishments. The posters would have to be available in multiple languages, including but not limited to Chinese, English, Korean, Russian, and Spanish. For more information, send an email to cweiss@foodallergy.org
Restaurant Legislation Introduced in Other States
Assembly Bill 7622 in New York
would require proprietors and employees of restaurants to be educated about the dangers of severe food allergy; the need to inform customers of the presence of allergens in menu items; the possibility of cross-contact during food preparation; the symptoms of allergic reactions; and the need for rapid response to such emergencies.
House Bill 5603 in Connecticut would require restaurants in that state to identify menu items that are prepared with known food allergens as identified by the FDA. (Senate Bill 417, also introduced in Connecticut, is virtually identical to House Bill 5603.)
Senate Bill 410 in Connecticut would require restaurants to disclose whether the restaurant used products containing the eight major food allergens in the restaurant's kitchen, and whether any item on the menu contains such products.
House Bill 6337, also introduced in Connecticut, would require the Commissioner of Public Health to adopt regulations to disclose to their consumers the presence of known food allergens in the food served.
In Pennsylvania, H.B. 45 would require training programs designed to prepare candidates for certification exams to include training on food allergies, including a video and written materials.
Tips for Eating Out
Chef Ming Tsai has some tips to share for eating out with food allergies. Listen!
Welcoming Guests With Food Allergies
With one in 25 Americans reporting a food allergy, restaurants are increasingly likely to have customers who require a special meal. Welcoming Guests With Food Allergies provides tools to train restaurant staff to safely prepare and serve food to guests with food allergies.
Available for free, this comprehensive program is an updated and revised version of an earlier training program published by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). This 60-page guide includes case studies, best practices, up-to-date research, food labeling information, and practical strategies for avoiding cross-contact, as well as suggested procedures for keeping guests safe and steps to prepare for an allergic emergency. Restaurants can use this guide as a basis for their food allergy management programs.
Food Code Revisions
The newly released edition of the FDA’s Food Code contains a definition of “major food allergen” that is consistent with the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA). The Code now recommends that the person in charge of a food establishment demonstrate knowledge of major food allergens.
The Food Code, which is revised every four years, acts as model food safety guidelines for retail food establishments. Local, state, and federal regulators use the Code as a model to develop or update their own food safety rules, which promotes uniformity across the nation.
Public Information Campaign in New Jersey
A law passed in New Jersey in 2005 (P.L.2005, c.26) created the
"Ask Before You Eat / Know Before You Serve" public information campaign,
designed to inform New Jersey restaurant personnel about food allergies and anaphylaxis. The campaign is currently being carried out by the Rutgers University Department of Nutritional Sciences and Food Policy Institute, along with the New Jersey Restaurant Association.
If you have any questions on legislation related to restaurants and food allergies, the FDA Food Code, or the New Jersey public information campaign, please send an e-mail to
cweiss@foodallergy.org .
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