New Yorkers picking up a box of cookies at a bakery or a pre-wrapped sandwich from the deli will soon have allergy information at their fingertips, thanks to a new law. All food establishments in the state must provide written notification of major food allergens on food packaged for sale under legislation signed November 12, 2025.
“It is not an exaggeration to say this bill will save lives,” New York Assemblymember Jen Lunsford tells Allergic Living. “With the addition of a small sticker, we are ensuring that those who need this life-saving information will be able to make faster, more informed decisions about the food they purchase.”
Lunsford sponsored the state Assembly version of the new legislation that was signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Her signature makes New York the first state to adopt this type of transparency law, says food allergy advocate Stacey Saiontz of Chappaqua.
“I hope that other states follow New York’s lead,” her 18-year-old son Jared Saiontz says. “Let’s make every state safer for those living with food allergies.”
The law will require written notification of an ingredient that’s among the top 9 major allergens on food packaged for purchase. This notification can be printed on a package or on a label affixed to the package.
The law does not require the listing of any other ingredients. It applies to food establishments such as delis, bakeries, ice cream parlors, sandwich shops, cafeterias and food trucks.
New York Allergen Law’s Start
Jared Saiontz, who has multiple food allergies, came up with the concept of allergen labeling for such establishments. The high school senior found himself frequenting food establishments, such as delis, with his friends.
“I wished I could tell from looking at a label on the items prepackaged on-site to determine if they were safe for me,” Jared says. “But unfortunately, none were labeled.”
Jared, along with his attorney mom Stacey Saiontz and fellow advocate and attorney Jill Mindlin, developed an idea to accomplish allergen labeling for the food that establishments packaged. He then met with New York Senator Pete Harckham, who agreed to sponsor the bill.
Harckham introduced the bill (S5381A) in the state Senate in February 2025 after meeting with the Saiontzes. Lunsford followed by introducing the Assembly version (A6558A) in March 2025. The bill passed in June 2025, then was sent to the governor, awaiting her signature.
“For people who are living with food allergies, there can be no room for error in respect to the ingredients that are in prepackaged meals or consumable products they are purchasing or being served,’ said Harckham. “This information needs to be presented to them clearly, or they risk a severe reaction or even death.”
The bill was modeled after the FDA’s 2022 Food Code, which offers guidance on allergen labeling for bakeries, delis and other food establishments. Since New York has not adopted a Food Code, this law aims to fill the gap on allergen labeling, Stacey Saiontz says.
Allergy Advocacy: Team Effort
The legislation will take effect in November 2026. The law says allergen labeling applies to “food that is prepared, prepacked and offered or sold to customers on the same premises.” That does not include food that’s packed right after a customer orders it, like a pizza or custom-made sandwich. Nor does it apply to foods that are not in packaging.
But it will affect a lot of foods for sale. “I am so excited that it will be easy to tell just by looking at the label on the food if it is safe to eat,” Jared says.
Lunsford has also experienced firsthand the importance of allergen labeling. In 2020, when her son was 3 years old, he suffered an anaphylactic reaction to a cookie purchased at a local bakery.
“While sitting in the hospital with him, I vowed to do whatever I could to prevent this from happening to anyone else,” Lunsford tells Allergic Living.
“This bill has been a long time in the making for me,” she says. “It is truly one of my proudest achievements as an Assemblymember.”
Jared, his mom and Mindlin were among several food allergy advocates who met with legislators in Albany to urge them to pass the allergen labeling bill.
While Jared approached Senator Harckham asking him to propose the legislation, he credits multiple advocates for working to ensure the legislation became a reality for New York residents.
“The only reason this bill succeeded was because of all the advocates who helped share their personal stories,” Jared says.
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