House Rep. OKs Carson’s bill to put specific allergy warnings on restaurant menus and boost enforcement

STATE HOUSE — The House of Representatives today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Lauren Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport) requiring more specific allergy warnings on the menus of all dining establishments.

The legislation (2022-H 7399), which would come into force on January 1, would require all food service establishments to include on their menus a warning, in bold and red type, which would be developed by the Department of Health, but must include at least the following language:

Before placing your order, please let your server know if anyone in your party has a food allergy. Consumers particularly vulnerable to foodborne illnesses should eat only well-cooked seafood and other animal foods. Food allergens can cause serious illness, anaphylactic shock and death.

“Food allergy warnings are already supposed to be on Rhode Island menus, but there’s no enforcement, and our law isn’t specific about what it should say. This warning is important – it protects both consumers and restaurants. Although most people with food allergies know to tell their servers, having a warning on the menu can be helpful to jog their memory when ordering and can prevent serious reactions. and even death,” Rep. Carson said. .

The bill would require the Department of Health to develop a system to digitally or in-person inspect each licensed restaurant’s menu to ensure compliance. Any restaurant that fails to provide the warning would receive a written warning for the first violation and a fine of up to $500 for each subsequent violation.

The bill now goes to the Senate.