California’s Restaurant Allergen Disclosure Requirements Are Now in Effect, by Kartikey Pradhan, Esq., 7-8-2026

Effective July 1, 2026, certain restaurant chains operating in California are required to provide customers with written disclosures regarding major food allergens contained in menu items under California SB 68, known as the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE) Act.

Covered restaurant operators that have not yet implemented the required allergen disclosures should do so promptly to bring their menus and ordering platforms into compliance with the law.

Which Businesses Are Covered?

SB 68 applies to food facilities that are subject to the federal menu-labeling requirements, generally meaning chains with 20 or more locations operating under the same name and offering substantially the same menu items.

As a result, many national and regional restaurant chains with covered locations in California are subject to the law’s allergen-disclosure requirements.

What Does the Law Require?

Covered establishments must provide written notification of major food allergens that the facility knows or reasonably should know are contained as ingredients in each menu item. The information may be provided directly on a printed or digital menu or made available through a digital format, such as a QR code. Restaurants that choose to provide allergen information through a digital format must also make the information available through an alternative method for customers who are unable to access the information electronically.

The law requires disclosure of the nine major food allergens recognized under federal law:

• Milk
• Eggs
• Fish
• Crustacean shellfish
• Tree nuts
• Peanuts
• Wheat
• Soybeans
• Sesame

SB 68 aligns California’s disclosure requirements with federal law by including sesame among the nine major food allergens.

Compliance Considerations

Compliance may require more than simply updating menu language. Covered restaurant operators should consider:

• Reviewing recipes, ingredient specifications, and supplier information to identify allergens contained in menu items;
• Ensuring required allergen information is available on the menu or through a digital format, with an alternative method available for customers who are unable to access the information electronically;
• Establishing procedures to update disclosures when recipes or ingredients change;
• Training employees responsible for menu development, food preparation, and customer communications regarding allergen disclosures; and
• Coordinating with franchisors, franchisees, suppliers, and technology vendors to help ensure consistent disclosures across locations.

Because the law requires disclosure of allergens that a facility “knows or reasonably should know” are contained as ingredients in menu items, maintaining accurate ingredient and supplier records may become increasingly important in demonstrating compliance.

Looking Ahead

California’s ADDE Act reflects a growing focus on food allergy transparency and consumer protection. Covered restaurant chains should continue reviewing their menus, ordering platforms, and ingredient information to help ensure ongoing compliance with the ADDE Act, particularly as recipes, suppliers, and menu offerings change.

Author:  Kartikey A. Pradhan, Partner in KD’s San Francisco office