California’s new Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act requires restaurants and food facilities with 20 or more national locations to clearly list major allergens for each menu item.The law, inspired by 9-year-old allergy advocate Addie Lao, mandates that allergen information for the “Big 9” be disclosed by July 1, 2026.With roughly 33 million Americans affected by food allergies, the law aims to make dining out safer and more inclusive for families and individuals managing allergies.
Dining out in California soon? Be ready for your menu to look a little different.
In January, the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act (ADDE) took effect in California, requiring restaurants and other food facilities with 20 or more locations nationwide 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.”
That means menus must list any known allergens in each dish’s description or make them available via a QR code for customers to scan. And it’s all thanks to a plucky 9-year-old who wanted to make a difference.
“The ADDE bill is so important so adults and kids like me can eat safely,” Addie Lao, the 9-year-old for whom the bill is named, said to Allergic Living when it was passed. She also shared that she has been advocating for the law with her mother, Robyn Lao. “I learned that even though I’m just a kid, I can make a big difference,” Addie said.
As Addie, who is allergic to dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame, explained, the idea for the bill came after dining at a restaurant that voluntarily displayed all the allergens, which she believed should be required for all restaurants.
“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.
Chains have until this summer — specifically July 1, 2026 — to implement the changes. At that point, they will need to post information about the “Big 9” allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame. While it may seem like a small change, an estimated 33 million Americans live with at least one food allergy, or about one in 10 U.S. adults and one in 13 children.
California state Sen. Caroline Menjivar, the bill’s initial sponsor, said in a statement, “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.” And that includes Menjivar herself, who also has food allergies. “In turn, these businesses will be able to offer allergen families a unique additional assurance that will drive customers to their establishments.”
Dining and Cooking