When you sit down at a restaurant, you probably expect to know what you are eating. For millions of Californians living with food allergies, that is not always the case. Now, a new law could soon change the way menus look across the state. From your local burger spot to giants like McDonald’s and Starbucks, restaurants will be required to spell out exactly which major allergens are in their food.
This law is being called one of the most sweeping food awareness bills in the nation, and if you eat out often, it will directly affect you.
What is California’s new allergen “awareness” law?
The law, introduced as Senate Bill 68 by Democratic state Sen. Caroline Menjivar, would make it mandatory for restaurants to list allergens in their food.
The goal is simple: to protect people from life-threatening allergic reactions. Menjivar, who is severely allergic herself, explained, “It’s really to protect the millions of people in California who have allergies like me.”
The law focuses on the nine most common allergens:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Tree nuts
- Peanuts
- Wheat
- Sesame
- Soybeans
If passed, the law will go into effect on July 1, 2026, and California will become the first state in the U.S. to require this level of transparency on menus.
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How will restaurant menus change under the law?
Whether you are ordering a latte at Starbucks or a burger at McDonald’s, you will notice changes. Restaurants will need to clearly display allergen information in one of two ways:
- Directly on the menu beside each item.
- Through a QR code that links to digital allergen details.
The requirements will depend on the type of restaurant:
- Large and medium chains (6–20 locations) must provide written allergen notifications.
- Small chains and single-location restaurants also need to provide allergen info, but in a way that is easy for customers to access.
Only mobile food operations and temporary food facilities are exempt from the law.
Why is this law being introduced now?
Food allergies affect an estimated four million Californians, according to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE). For many of them, dining out can be dangerous.
Seventeen-year-old Kimura from San Jose explained it plainly: “Eating out is definitely really dangerous. It’s something that I try to avoid. When dining out, obviously I always bring my EpiPens, and I’m really nervous all the time.”
Younger voices have also made an impact. Nine-year-old Addie Lao told lawmakers, “I want to be able to eat out with my friends and family like everyone else. I have to avoid the foods I’m allergic to since it’s like poison to my body and can harm me.”
Lawmakers say the law is about fairness and safety. It is meant to give people with allergies the same dining freedom as everyone else.
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How will this impact food chains like Mcdonald’s and Starbucks?
For the big chains, this will mean significant menu changes. National brands with California locations including McDonald’s and Starbucks will have to update their printed menus, digital displays, and even their online ordering systems to meet the requirements.
This might involve:
- Redesigning menus to list allergens.
- Updating digital apps and drive-thru screens.
- Training staff to answer allergy-related questions.
While these changes may be costly, they are expected to build more trust with customers and possibly attract more business from people who currently avoid dining out.
What do critics say about the new law?
There’s a bit of controversy as not everyone agrees with this. The California Restaurant Association has raised concerns, saying the new rules will drive up costs for restaurants that are already struggling.
Matthew Sutton, senior vice president at the group, said: “You get into a situation where the menu becomes unwieldy and it becomes incredibly impractical and expensive to be constantly converting menus out with each ingredient shift that may occur and the need to do a new allergy notification.”
Despite the criticism, supporters believe the benefits outweigh the challenges, especially for families living with severe allergies.
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