Strict Food Allergy Labeling Law Proposed In Edison

EDISON, NJ — A new ordinance aimed at reducing allergy risks in restaurants has been introduced in Edison and, if passed, could be among the strictest food safety regulations in the nation.

Under the proposed ordinance, all restaurants in the township would be required to label all common potential allergens on the menu. Catering companies that do business within the town, even if they're based somewhere else, would be required to follow the regulation.

The eight foods that fall under the Food and Drug Administration's definition of an allergen are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.

The ordinance is on the agenda for the Aug. 22 Town Council meeting. If passed, restaurants would have until Oct. 1 to identity allergens, and until Feb. 1, 2019 to amend their menus. Bars and coffee shops would also have to follow the new rules.

New Jersey does not currently have any statewide allergy labeling laws, and it's unclear if other New Jersey towns have anything on the books. Several other states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, have strict allergy laws requiring educational signs and training, according to advocacy group Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), but none appear to go as far as Edison's proposed ordinance.

Food allergies have increased in children by 50 percent between 1997 and 2011, the CDC says. Fifteen million Americans have at least one allergy, including 5.9 million children. Food allergies range in severity, from mild discomfort to anaphylaxis and, in extreme cases, death. About 40 percent of all allergic reactions are considered severe.

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