California has enacted a landmark piece of legislation that is poised to become a national model for food safety. Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE) Act into law, making California the first state in the nation to mandate that large chain restaurants disclose the Top 9 food allergen ingredients on their menus: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, crustacean shellfish, and sesame.
The bill, signed just before the close of the legislative session, is a monumental victory for the food allergy community. It is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
A New Tool for Diner Safety
The ADDE Act requires chain restaurants with 20 or more locations to provide clear allergen information directly on their menus. This disclosure must use either common language descriptions or standardized pictograms to indicate the allergenic ingredients present in the preparation of each dish.
This new mandate offers a critical tool for the estimated 32 million Americans with food allergies, as well as intolerances and other dietary restrictions, significantly reducing the risk of accidental exposure and life-threatening reactions.
The Story Behind the Legislation
The legislation was championed by California Senator Caroline Menjivar but was inspired by a personal mission. The ADDE Act is named after Addie Lao, a 9-year-old with multiple severe allergies, including to peanuts, tree nuts, milk, and sesame.
Addie and her mother, Robyn Lao, spearheaded the idea after experiencing the mandatory, comprehensive allergen disclosure during a positive dining experience in the United Kingdom. Their goal was to bring that level of safety and transparency to California diners.
The initial legislative proposal aimed to cover all dining establishments in California but was ultimately narrowed to apply only to large chains. This scaling back was the result of lobbying from the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) and the California Restaurant Association.
Urging a National Movement
With the ADDE Act now law, we are calling on state legislatures across the country to follow California’s lead. This pioneering legislation creates a new national standard, paving the way for similar measures that would provide vulnerable citizens nationwide with the essential information needed to dine out safely and confidently.
