Teen advocates are using their voices to help push a bill forward that would require allergen labeling on all restaurant menus in New Jersey. After hearing testimony from teens and other supporters, the Senate health committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 3394 on October 5, 2026.
New Jersey advocates are championing the bill, which requires any food service business to provide written notification of major food allergens in every menu item. S3394 will next be considered by the state Senate’s budget and appropriations committee.
The lobbying effort follows success in California, which passed the groundbreaking ADDE Act (SB 68) in October 2025. That law requires large chain restaurants to list major food allergens on menus.
The New Jersey bill aims to take the allergen labeling mandate further. It would apply to all restaurants, as well as delis, coffee shops, convenience and grocery stores (ready-to-eat food), business cafeterias, food trucks, and movie theaters.
High school senior Ashley Ackerman was among the supporters in Trenton, New Jersey who testified for S3394.
“Senate Bill 3394 symbolizes what I have always wanted for myself and others for since I was little,” Ashley tells Allergic Living. “I feel lucky that I was able to share my story,” says the teen with multiple food allergies.
The advocates’ work is bolstered by the Menus Ensuring Allergen Labeling (MEAL) Advocacy Movement. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) launched this national initiative. It’s now driving momentum for laws that require labeling of major allergens at restaurants in a growing number of states.
“AAFA is encouraged by the unanimous support given to our MEAL legislation by the Senate health committee in New Jersey,” says Jenna Riemenschneider. She is AAFA’s vice president of advocacy and policy.
AAFA’s National Movement
Led by AAFA and its division Kids with Food Allergies (KFA), the MEAL project is a cohesive and continuing effort to help local state advocates pass allergen menu laws.
The initiative builds on the success in California, where AAFA was at the forefront of advocacy to help the ADDE Act (Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences) become law. California became the first state to require written notification of major allergens within restaurant menu ingredient descriptions.
The ADDE Act came into effect in July 2026. It was inspired by Addie Lao, a 9-year-old advocate with multiple food allergies. Addie and her mom Robyn Lao worked with AAFA to rally support for the law from their community, and state and national organizations.
AAFA has now turned its attention to helping other advocates who are pressing forward similar legislation. Besides New Jersey, MEAL bills requiring all restaurants to label major allergens were introduced in six other states in 2026. They are: Maryland, Ohio, Missouri, New York, Michigan and Illinois. AAFA says it’s looking to expand to more states in 2027.
For information about how to help advance current bills or to bring MEAL legislation to your state, reach out to AAFA’s team on their webpage here.
New Jersey’s Allergens on Menu Bill
For the October 5 Senate hearing in New Jersey, advocates wrote letters and testified to the need for clear allergen labeling on menus.
Senator Patrick Diegnan Jr. introduced S3394 in February 2026. Meantime, New Jersey Assemblywoman Dr. Margie Donlon introduced the companion Assembly Bill 4826 in May.
As with the ADDE Act, personal stories from youth advocates and families navigating food allergies are essential in helping to win lawmakers’ support. Those personal stories took center stage during the health committee hearing.
Jackson Latorra, 14, says sharing his story with the committee “was an honor and showed me that I can make a difference and help create change.”
The New Jersey high school freshman is allergic to dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, chickpeas and shellfish. Jackson has participated in mile-long ocean swims to raise funds for food allergies. He also shares his advocacy work, including the state menu bill, through his Allergy Action with Jackson Instagram page.
“I am proud to use my voice to advocate for the food allergy community,” Jackson says. Joining him and other advocates at the state legislature was teen Ashley Ackerman. “I won’t give up until families can dine safely in restaurants,” the 17-year-old advocate tells Allergic Living.
Ashley is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, soy and shellfish. In addition to advocating for the restaurant bill, Ashley mentors children with food allergies through her Allergy Pals page on Instagram.
How Allergens Would be Labeled
If passed, New Jersey’s restaurant allergen labeling bill S3394/A4826 would go into effect a year after it is enacted.
The bill would require allergen information to be provided on the physical menu, or in a digital format, such as a QR code to the online menu. It can also be provided in a written chart or booklet.
“We are hopeful the bill will continue to move forward in the legislative process, not only in New Jersey, but in other states across the country as well,” Riemenschneider says.
Related Reading:
ADDE Allergens on Menu Act Takes Effect, Inspiring More States
Texas Student’s Allergy Tragedy Shows Need for Menu Ingredients
Vegas Lawsuit Claims Negligence Led to Allergic Diner’s Tragedy
