SAN JOSE, Calif. — Braxton Kimura, a 17-year-old from San Jose, is acutely aware of the dangers of dining out due to his severe allergies to peanuts, shellfish, and most tree nuts. The slightest exposure can lead to a life-threatening reaction, making eating at restaurants a source of anxiety for him. "Eating out is definitely really dangerous. It’s something that I try to avoid," Kimura stated. He always carries his EpiPens but finds himself on high alert when trying to enjoy meals away from home.
However, there may be a shift in California that could reduce Braxton’s stress regarding food allergens while dining out. State lawmakers are preparing to vote on a groundbreaking piece of legislation aimed at requiring all restaurants to disclose the presence of any of the nine most common food allergens in their menu items. These allergens include milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, sesame, and soybeans.
The proposed legislation, known as Senate Bill 68, or the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act (ADDE), would not only mandate physical menus or allergen-specific charts but also allow restaurants to utilize QR codes linking to digital menus that provide allergen information. Notably, food trucks and carts would be exempt from this requirement. The legislative voting is expected in September, with implementation projected for July 1, 2026, pending approval by Governor Gavin Newsom.
State Senator Caroline Menjivar, a Democrat from San Fernando Valley and the bill's sponsor, expressed that this law aims to protect millions of Californians with food allergies, like herself. Menjivar has personally faced severe allergic reactions that required hospitalization, and her experiences have motivated her to drive this bill forward. She was inspired to launch this legislation after witnessing similar allergen disclosure practices in Europe during her travels.
At the center of advocacy for SB 68 is 9-year-old Addie Lao, who has severe food allergies herself. She has become a prominent face for the initiative, participating in various media and legislative forums to highlight the struggles children like herself face. "I want to be able to eat out with my friends and family like everyone else," Addie remarked during a Senate hearing.
While the bill enjoys substantial support from medical organizations and allergy advocacy groups, it faces opposition from the California Restaurant Association. Critics argue that the legislation would place undue burdens on restaurants, which are already coping with rising costs and consumer demand challenges. Matthew Sutton, a representative from the association, noted concerns over the practicality and expenses related to constantly updating menus to reflect allergen information.
Several restaurant chains, including Chipotle, Red Robin, and Olive Garden, have already started to post allergen information voluntarily. In contrast, Brian Hom, who operates two Vitality Bowl restaurants in San Jose, passionately supports the bill after experiencing the loss of his son due to accidental peanut exposure at a resort. He believes that implementing this legislation "is going to save lives" and advocates for better safety in food accessibility for those with allergies.
Research indicates that approximately 33 million Americans, including nearly 4 million in California, live with at least one food allergy, a number that is steadily increasing. Kimura’s awareness of his allergies began early in life when he was diagnosed at just 14 months old after a frightening incident where he ate a peanut off the floor and required emergency treatment.
As a high school senior and basketball player, Kimura has initiated an awareness project called Beyond the Shell, producing a documentary titled "The Last Bite," which sheds light on the realities of living with severe food allergies. He acknowledges that although SB 68 would not eliminate all his concerns, such as ensuring caution against cross-contamination, it would significantly alleviate his anxiety when dining out. "It would kind of give me more of a peace of mind and would overall just create a better environment and more awareness around food allergies as a whole," Kimura stated, highlighting the positive impact of the potential legislation.
