California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the ADDE Act into law, making history for menu allergen transparency. With that pen stroke, California becomes the first state to require written notification of major allergens in restaurant menu ingredient descriptions.
The legislation, known as SB 68, requires restaurants with 20 or more locations nationally to list major food allergens contained in each menu item. Newsom’s signature on October 13, 2025 came just before the deadline to sign legislation during the current session.
Leading the charge for this law have been Robyn Lao and her daughter Addie Lao, 9, the act’s namesake. After many months of advocacy alongside the bill’s initial sponsor California Senator Caroline Menjivar, finally, they are celebrating – the ADDE Act is official. It will go into effect in July 2026.
“The ADDE bill is so important so adults and kids like me can eat safely,” Addie told Allergic Living. “I learned that even though I’m just a kid, I can make a big difference.”
“Today marks a historic victory for the millions of Californians living with food allergies,” noted Kenneth Mendez. He is president and CEO of the nonprofit Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), which also lobbied hard for the law. “This legislation will save lives.”
The ADDE (Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences) Act started with young Addie’s dream to enjoy eating out more safely at restaurants. Addie is allergic to dairy, peanuts, tree nuts and sesame.
After enjoying the “tastiest dumplings” at a restaurant that labeled for the top nine allergens, she and her family decided that type of menu transparency should be required.
ADDE Act’s Journey to Law
Addie and her mom Robyn Lao got busy to make that happen. They found a common ally in Senator Menjivar, who is allergic to nuts and most fruits. They worked together on the legislation that the senator introduced into the California Senate in January 2025.
Now, SB 68 will help millions of Californians like Addie and Menjivar be more informed about allergens on the menu when they dine out at large chain 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 Lao tells Allergic Living.
The food allergy community across the U.S. rallied behind the proposed law. Addie’s young voice became the driving force for diners with food allergies, whether on social media or when testifying in the California state legislature.
AAFA has also been at the forefront of efforts to pass the legislation. The allergy nonprofit coordinated letter-writing, social media posts, and lobby days in Sacramento. The advocates’ efforts garnered support from nearly 70 state and national organizations, more than 500 healthcare professionals, and more than 1,000 California residents.
“We want to thank all the advocates who wrote their lawmakers, attended legislative hearings in Sacramento, and organized to make this law a reality,” says Melanie Carver, AAFA’s chief mission officer. “The result will be felt in thousands of restaurants as people with food allergies enjoy dining out with more confidence to navigate food allergens.”
Allergen Menu Legislation
The ADDE Act passed the California Senate unanimously in May 2025, and passed the Assembly on September 8. It was sent to the governor’s desk after a second Senate vote on September 9. This was required because significant amendments were made to the bill ahead of the Assembly vote.
The bill initially called for restaurants of any size to provide written notification of allergens in menu items. Then revisions were made to quell concerns about the economic impact on smaller restaurants.
The amended ADDE Act requires restaurants that fall under the mandate to provide written notification of the top nine allergens that are contained in any menu items. The ingredient information can be displayed in the following ways:
- Directly on the menu. A written statement below or adjacent to the menu item will indicate which major allergens it contains.
- Digital format. Restaurants can provide digital labeling, such as a QR code that links to the food outlet’s digital menu.
- Separate allergen menu. If an eatery uses a digital format, it also must “use an alternative method to provide the information to customers who are not able to access the information in the digital format.” Options include an allergen-specific menu, chart or booklet.
- Enforcement: The California Department of Public Health and the local health agencies that regulate food and restaurant safety will monitor adherence with the law.
The law also adds sesame to the list of major food allergens in the California Health and Safety Code.
ADDE Act: Example to Follow
AAFA and other advocates plan to expand the scope of the groundbreaking legislation so that it eventually applies to more restaurants in California. The nonprofit also sees the ADDE Act as an example for other states to pass laws for allergen menu disclosure.
“It sets a powerful precedent,” Mendez says. “That will encourage broader adoption across the industry and inspire other states to follow California’s lead. This is what progress looks like when advocacy, courage, and common sense come together,” he said.
For now, in California, food-allergic diners at larger restaurant chains can look forward to more transparent allergen menu information. “I hope Addie and I can meet up for a meal to see the culmination of our efforts right there in black and white on the menu,” Menjivar says.
The senator is among 4 million Californians with food allergies who can “enjoy the increased peace of mind” thanks to the legislation, she says.
“We’re incredibly proud of how far this has come,” Robyn Lao says. “And we’re hopeful that allergen labeling will soon become standard everywhere.”
Related Reading:
California’s Allergy Dining Bill Revised to Apply Only to Larger Chains
Allergic Living’s Dining and Travel Section
