The bill amends Chapter 23-20.12 of the General Laws, titled "Food Allergy Awareness in Food-Service Establishments," to establish a food allergy awareness program under the direction of the Department of Health. This program mandates that food-service establishments prominently display a food allergy awareness poster in the staff area, include a specific notice on all menus informing customers of their obligation to inform servers about any food allergies, and designate a manager knowledgeable about food allergy issues related to food preparation. The language for the menu notice is to be developed in consultation with relevant associations and must include a minimum set of statements regarding the risks of food allergens.

Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health to implement a system for digitally inspecting or conducting in-person inspections of menus to ensure compliance with these provisions. Restaurants that fail to comply with the menu warning requirements will receive a written warning for a first offense and may be fined up to five hundred dollars for subsequent offenses. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2024. The bill also includes the deletion of previous legal language, though the specific deletions are not provided in the text.

Statutes affected:
5328  SUB A: 23-20.12-2
5328: 23-20.12-2