YEAH. CURTIS TEN YEAR OLD ADDIE LAW WAS PUSHING FOR THIS NEW LAW THAT’S GOING TO BRING TRANSPARENCY TO MENUS AT RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND IT’S EXPECTED TO HELP AROUND 3 █MILLION CALIFORNIANS. IN ORDER TO PREVENT THEM FROM HAVING SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES, LIKE ADDIE HERSELF. WELL, ADDIE’S ACTUALLY IN A ALLERGY PROGRAM. TEN YEAR OLD ADDIE LAW HAS A DIFFERENT SELECTION IN HER FRIDGE THAN MOST. WELL, RIGHT NOW I’M DRINKING LIKE HORSE MILK AND DONKEY MILK. HER PRIORITY IS AVOIDING CERTAIN FOODS. I’M HAVING, LIKE, ALL THESE DIFFERENT NUTS FOR FOR, LIKE, MY PEANUTS, PEANUT ALLERGY AND SESAME ALLERGY. BUT LUCKY FOR HER, TUESDAY NIGHT’S MENU HAS ONE OF HER FAVORITES. I DON’T HAVE THEM A LOT, SO IT ALSO MAKES THEM SPECIAL TO ME. MOST DUMPLINGS ARE OFF THE MENU, AND THE STUFFING ALWAYS HAS SESAME OIL, OR MOST OFTEN DOES. AND SO WITHOUT LABELING OR INFORMATION, OFTENTIMES WE ASK THE STAFF AND THEY’RE LIKE, NOT SURE. AND THEY GO AND CHECK OR THERE’S A LOT OF LIKE BACK AND FORTH. ADDIE AND HER MOM FOUND A WAY TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE. THEY PUSHED FOR THE PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 68, THE ALLERGEN DISCLOSURE FOR DINNER EXPERIENCES, OR ADDIE ACT, LABELING THE TOP NINE ALLERGENS ON MENUS, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME AND THE ALLERGY COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT’S REALLY HARD TO EAT OUT SAFELY WITHOUT LIKE, WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT’S IN YOUR FOOD. THAT ALL CHANGES WEDNESDAY WHEN THE NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT, MAKING CALIFORNIA THE FIRST STATE TO REQUIRE LARGE CHAIN RESTAURANTS TO DISCLOSE THE BIG NINE ALLERGENS. YOU’RE OPENING UP MORE OF A MARKET FOR THOSE GUESTS THAT OTHERWISE CANNOT AND WILL NOT BUY FROM YOU, OR GO AND VISIT TO ONE OF YOUR LOCATIONS. MENUS AT RESTAURANTS WITH 20 OR MORE LOCATIONS WILL HAVE TO LIST IF ITEMS HAVE MILK, EGGS, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, FISH, SHELLFISH, WHEAT, SOY AND SESAME. ADVOCATES SAY IT CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEAVING DINNER IN A CAR OR AN AMBULANCE. I THINK IT JUST REALLY HELPS THEM DINE OUT SAFER. IT MAKES THEM LESS SCARED TO DINE OUT. I MEAN, YOU STILL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL, BUT IT’LL JUST BE LIKE A WAY TO START THE CONVERSATION. ADDIE AND HER MOM SAY THAT THEY HOPE ONE DAY. LISTING OUT ALLERGENS ON MENUS AT RESTAURANTS WILL BE AT ALL RESTAURANTS, AND NOT JUST CHAINS. LIVE IN SACRAMENTO.
California law requires allergen labeling at chain restaurants
Starting Wednesday, California will require large chain restaurants to disclose the top nine allergens on their menus, helping people with food allergies dine out more safely.
Updated: 11:11 PM PDT Jun 30, 2026
California will become the first state to require large chain restaurants to disclose the presence of the top nine allergens on their menus starting Wednesday, thanks to a new law known as Senate Bill 68, or the Allergen Disclosure for Dinner Experiences (ADDE) Act. The law was championed by 10-year-old Addie Lao and her mother, Robyn Lao, who have worked to make dining out safer for people with food allergies. “Labeling the top nine allergens on menus, which is really important for me in the allergy community. So it’s really hard to eat out safely without, like, without knowing what’s in your food,” Robyn Lao said. Addie, who has severe food allergies, explained how her diet differs from others. “Right now, I’m drinking like horse milk and donkey milk,” she said. “I’m having all these different nuts for my peanut and sesame allergy.” Dining out has often been a challenge for Addie and her family, especially with dishes like dumplings. “The stuffing always has sesame oil or most often does and so without labeling or good information, often times we ask the staff and they’re like not sure and they go and check or there’s a lot of like back and forth,” Robyn Lao said. The ADDE Act requires restaurants with 20 or more locations to list if menu items contain milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, or sesame. Advocates say this transparency can make a significant difference. Lucy Logan, co-founder of Everybite, a foodservice technology company that provides personalized, ingredient-first digital menus.Everybite, which is partnered with the California Restaurant Association, highlighted the benefits for businesses and diners. “You’re opening up more of a market for those guests that otherwise cannot and will not buy from you or go and visit one of your locations,” Logan said. For Addie and others with food allergies, the law represents a step toward safer dining experiences. “I think it just really helps them dine out safer. It makes them less scared to dine out,” Robyn Lao said. “I mean, you still have to be careful, but it’ll just be like a way to start the conversation.”The ADDE Act goes into effect July 1, and Addie and her mom hope that one day allergen labeling will be required at all restaurants, not just chains.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California will become the first state to require large chain restaurants to disclose the presence of the top nine allergens on their menus starting Wednesday, thanks to a new law known as Senate Bill 68, or the Allergen Disclosure for Dinner Experiences (ADDE) Act.
The law was championed by 10-year-old Addie Lao and her mother, Robyn Lao, who have worked to make dining out safer for people with food allergies.
“Labeling the top nine allergens on menus, which is really important for me in the allergy community. So it’s really hard to eat out safely without, like, without knowing what’s in your food,” Robyn Lao said.
Addie, who has severe food allergies, explained how her diet differs from others.
“Right now, I’m drinking like horse milk and donkey milk,” she said. “I’m having all these different nuts for my peanut and sesame allergy.”
Dining out has often been a challenge for Addie and her family, especially with dishes like dumplings.
“The stuffing always has sesame oil or most often does and so without labeling or good information, often times we ask the staff and they’re like not sure and they go and check or there’s a lot of like back and forth,” Robyn Lao said.
The ADDE Act requires restaurants with 20 or more locations to list if menu items contain milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, or sesame. Advocates say this transparency can make a significant difference.
Lucy Logan, co-founder of Everybite, a foodservice technology company that provides personalized, ingredient-first digital menus.
Everybite, which is partnered with the California Restaurant Association, highlighted the benefits for businesses and diners. “You’re opening up more of a market for those guests that otherwise cannot and will not buy from you or go and visit one of your locations,” Logan said.
For Addie and others with food allergies, the law represents a step toward safer dining experiences.
“I think it just really helps them dine out safer. It makes them less scared to dine out,” Robyn Lao said. “I mean, you still have to be careful, but it’ll just be like a way to start the conversation.”
The ADDE Act goes into effect July 1, and Addie and her mom hope that one day allergen labeling will be required at all restaurants, not just chains.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel