California is first in new food regs, again. This time, it’s about tightening allergy alerts on resto men-us. The state is enacting new requirements for addressing the so-called ‘Big 9’ food allergies on menus at restos with 20 or more locations…
Addie and her Mom spearheaded a major effort to get the bill passed, which eventually
included its own logo and pro-quality graphics such as the online ad, above…
The changes will affect a few regional chains, but mainly affects the big, national ‘fast casual’ and Fast Food brands… An estimated 33 million Americans suffer from food allergies. That’s one in 10 U.S. adults and one in 13 children. So it’s no insignificant gesture.
The Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act (ADDE) is named for Addie Lao, a 9-year-old aller-gy sufferer who decided to mount a crusade for stronger allergy alerts. Addie is allergic to dairy, pea-nuts, tree nuts, and sesame. After a visit to a restaurant that voluntarily displayed all the allergens, she asked herself why all restos shouldn’t be required to do so.
“[The bill] is a crucial first step toward a culture of food allergy safety that will save lives and em-power families like ours to dine out,” Addie’s Mom Robyn added.
What it does…
The Bill mandates that, an affected resto, “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.”
Restos will be required to list all known allergens in each dish’s description, or make such a list avail-able via a QR code for customers to scan.
The ADDE Act comes into effect July 1, this year. Restaurants will have to post pertinent info on the so-called ‘Big 9‘ allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
My take
I have a nagging bad taste in my mouth about kid activists of any stripe. I think I developed that as a result of the continuing efforts of crusader Greta Thunberg, who’s been carrying on a global cam-paign to make adults more aware of climate change.
At first, when she was just 15, I thought she was cute. And I actually enjoyed her scolding and chiding of politicians and adults in general about ignoring the effects of mega issues such as Global Warm-ing. But now she’s 23. And I recently realized I’ve grown tired of her impatient, even strident tone. The mere thought of her name makes me clench my teeth.
But anyway…
As the adults used to say about kids they liked, I still have lots of time for kids like Addie Lao. She also shared that her Mom has been a big help. “I learned that even though I’m just a kid, I can make a big difference,” Addie said. I think parental supervision is a very important factor in any Childrens’ Crusade.
And I agree with Addie and her Mom that stronger, expanded allergy disclosures on resto menus are a good idea.
~ Maggie J.