Overview
- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 68 on Monday, enacting a first-in-the-nation rule authored by Sen. Caroline Menjivar that takes effect in 2026.
- The mandate applies to restaurant businesses with at least 20 locations and requires disclosures when allergens are known or reasonably should be known to be present.
- Menus must identify common allergens such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy and sesame.
- The California Restaurant Association says compliance could be costly and warns of potential “predatory lawsuits,” though the law exempts small independent eateries.
- Food Allergy Research and Education was quoted calling the law a meaningful step, though earlier local coverage reported the group joined industry to oppose the proposal over cross-contact concerns.