What's happening
This bill requires food service establishments in New York to post department-issued food allergy information posters in both English and Spanish.
Why it matters
Raises safety awareness for staff. By mandating visible food allergy posters in prep and serving areas, it directly targets the people handling food, increasing the chance they’ll be mindful of allergy risks and avoid cross-contamination.
Improves communication with non-English speakers. Requiring posters in both English and Spanish ensures that a broader segment of food service workers—many of whom may be Spanish-speaking—have access to essential allergy information, potentially reducing misunderstandings and mistakes.
Standardizes allergy information statewide. Having the Department of Health create and distribute the posters ensures that all establishments get accurate, up-to-date, and consistent information about food allergies, rather than relying on possibly outdated or incomplete materials.
May introduce minimal new costs. The law allows the Department to charge a fee for the posters to cover expenses, so small businesses should be aware of a potential (though likely minor) new compliance cost.
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Who cares
Food service establishment operators
They would have to post department-provided food allergy information where anyone preparing or serving food can see it, with pushcarts exempt.
New York State Department of Health
The department would create and distribute posters in English and Spanish, set posting rules and be allowed to charge fees covering printing, postage and handling.
Food preparation and serving staff
They would have food allergy information posted in a visible area at their workplaces.
People with food allergies
The bill would require food allergy information to be displayed for workers preparing or serving their food.
Headline styles
Post Food Allergy Warnings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 8
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Post Food Allergy Signs
In Assembly Committee · Consumer Affairs And Protection · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1644
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BROOKS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the creation and posting of food allergy posters in retail establishments
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 1352-f to read as follows:
§ 1352-f. Food allergies posters. 1. For purposes of this section, "food service establishment" shall have the meaning as such term is defined in the state sanitary code, except that it shall not include any pushcarts.
2. The department shall create a poster containing information on food allergies for use in food service establishments in both English and Spanish.
3. Every food service establishment shall post, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the department, in an area visible to anyone preparing or serving food, posters containing information on food allergies provided by the department.
4. The department shall make such posters available and may charge a fee to cover printing, postage and handling expenses.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00513-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the creation and posting of food allergy posters in retail establishments
Purpose
The purpose of this legislation is to require the display of information regarding food allergies and safety practices regarding cross contam- ination within food service establishments.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. amends the public health law by adding a new section 1352-f which provides that the department of health shall create food allergy posters for use in food service establishments and requires their post- ing. Such posters shall be available in English and Spanish for a fee not to exceed their production/shipping cost.
Section 2. is the enacting clause.
Justification
The dangers associated with food allergies and cross contamination can be sharply curtailed through the use of proper education and effective sanitary techniques. By requiring the display of critical food allergy information within food service establishments, these safety mechanisms are more likely to be utilized, leading to a lower incidence of prevent- able allergic reaction in New York's restaurants.
Fiscal implications
None to the state
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.