SB 68: Major food allergens.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the California Retail Food Code, establishes uniform health and sanitation standards for, and provides for regulation by the State Department of Public Health of, retail food facilities, and requires local health agencies to enforce those provisions. Existing law makes a person who violates a provision of the code guilty of a misdemeanor.

Existing law requires the person in charge of a food facility to have adequate knowledge of major food allergens, as defined, foods identified as major food allergens, and the symptoms that a major food allergen could cause in a sensitive individual who has an allergic reaction and to educate food facility employees regarding those matters. Existing law requires a food handler to obtain a food handler card from a specified training provider after completing a food handler training course and examination that covers, among other things, major food allergens and symptoms of allergic reactions.

This bill would add sesame to the list of major food allergens.

Existing law, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, requires certain restaurants and similar retail food establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name and offering for sale substantially the same menu items to disclose nutrient content information, as specified.

This bill, commencing July 1, 2026, would require a food facility that is subject to the federal disclosure provisions for nutrient content information to provide written notification of the major food allergens that the food facility knows or reasonably should know are contained as an ingredient in each menu item, either directly on its menu or in a digital format, as specified. The bill would specify that its provisions requiring a food facility to provide the above-described notifications do not apply to compact mobile food operations or nonpermanent food facilities.

By expanding the scope of existing crimes and by imposing new duties on local health officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 13, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 741, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 13, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 16, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. September 9, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2709.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. September 8, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. September 8, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 66. Noes 1. Page 2982.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. September 4, 2025Ordered to third reading.
8. September 4, 2025Read third time and amended.
9. August 21, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 20, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (August 20).
11. July 10, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. July 9, 2025From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 1.) (July 8).