A coalition of Pennsylvania lawmakers and food allergy advocates is pushing for passage of legislation that would make the state’s restaurants and other food retail establishments safer for more than 1.3 million Pennsylvanians living with food allergies.

House Bill 77—sponsored by Representative Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny) and Representative Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Westmoreland)—passed the House in February with a strong bipartisan majority and is now in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

Venkat says House Bill 77 would reduce life-threatening risks by targeting practices in higher-risk settings, including restaurants and other retail food facilities, where patrons are often unknowingly exposed to allergens.

“As an emergency physician, I have treated hundreds of patients with life-threatening allergic reactions, including many food-based reactions that could have been prevented,” Venkat said. “As a lawmaker, I know we can do more to reduce that risk.

“One important way is by mandating changes in higher-risk settings like restaurants and other food retail facilities, where cross-contamination during food preparation, failing to notify customers about the need to convey their food allergies, or a patron’s failure to alert staff of food allergies accounts for many incidents.”

The bill’s requirements include providing allergen ingredient transparency and promoting customer allergy communication.

“Include on a food menu or through other written information a notice to a customer of food allergens used in the retail food facility and a request for the customer to inform the employee serving the customer about the customer's food allergy,” the bill states.

The bill also calls for displaying posters in employee areas to promote food allergy awareness among employees. The posters are to contain “at a minimum, a description of the major food allergens and symptoms of an allergic reaction.”

Advocacy group Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) has voiced its support for the bill.

“With a practical law in place, individuals and families living with food allergy may be more willing to extend trust when dining out, allowing Pennsylvania restaurants to reap the economic benefits from engaging with our sizeable community. By passing this legislation, Pennsylvania will become a model state for food allergy awareness and a culinary destination for food allergy patients and families,” said FARE CEO Sung Poblete, R.N., Ph.D.

The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA) also supports the legislation.

“As the association representing thousands of restaurants, bars, caterers and other hospitality businesses across Pennsylvania, PRLA recognizes the critical importance of food allergy awareness in protecting the health and safety of our guests,” said Joe Massaro, president and CEO of PRLA. “Many of our members already have strong food allergy protocols in place, while others are seeking guidance and best practices. We believe House Bill 77 supports this effort by establishing clear, reasonable standards that are not overly burdensome for operators across the commonwealth.”

It is estimated that more than 1.3 million Pennsylvanians—including approximately 200,000 children—live with food allergies.