US Restaurant Allergen Menu Laws 2026

There is no single federal rule requiring every restaurant to list allergens on every menu. Federal packaged-food labeling laws establish the Top 9, while restaurant requirements vary by state and locality. California SB 68 now requires qualifying food facilities associated with chains of 20 or more locations to provide written notification of major allergens in standard menu items. Check current official rules for every location.

From July 1, 2026, California SB 68 requires a qualifying food facility associated with a chain of 20 or more locations to provide written notification of major food allergens it knows or reasonably should know are ingredients in each standard menu item. CDPH permits notification on the menu or through specified alternative written methods, including a digital format or QR-linked allergen resource. Review CDPH exemptions and the enacted text for the exact scope.

The Top 9 are milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. Sesame became the ninth major allergen for federal packaged-food labeling on January 1, 2023. IAMenu can record corresponding categories, but an EU-oriented category model does not automatically establish US legal compliance; the operator must map and verify the actual ingredients.

The FASTER Act added sesame to federal packaged-food labeling requirements effective January 1, 2023. It did not by itself create a nationwide restaurant-menu labeling rule. California SB 68 references the federal definition for qualifying facilities, while other state and local obligations must be checked separately.

Treat the incident as a safety emergency and follow the restaurant's trained response protocol, including contacting emergency services where appropriate. Preserve recipe, supplier and staff records and obtain qualified legal or insurance advice for the specific incident. This page does not predict liability or quote a universal damages figure.

Requirements differ and can include training, notices, packaged-food rules or menu disclosures. This guide does not maintain a universal state-by-state legal table. Use the relevant health department and enacted law for each location, and obtain professional advice where the classification or duty is unclear.

CDPH lists digital notification, including a QR code linked to a digital menu or separate allergen resource, among permitted methods. The method still has to meet the law's presentation and scope requirements. A digital menu makes reviewed information easier to update, but it cannot know that a recipe or supplier changed unless the restaurant updates and verifies the source data.

IAMenu can suggest likely categories from the menu information provided and store reviewed allergen records with each item. Suggestions can be incomplete or wrong because a dish name is not a recipe and does not reveal supplier substitutions or cross-contact. A trained operator must verify every item against recipes, labels and kitchen procedures before publication.

IAMenu publishes €19, €39 and €69 monthly plans. Reviewable allergen suggestions are available across plans, subject to the current plan configuration. The 14-day Professional trial does not require a credit card. Subscription software does not replace compliance work or legal advice.