Southwest Allegheny News

State Representatives Arvind Venkat and Natalie Mihalek have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing food allergy safety across Pennsylvania. The proposed legislation seeks to mandate disclaimers about food allergies on restaurant menus, require posters for server awareness in food preparation areas, and necessitate food allergy safety training for staff.

“The last thing anyone should worry about while enjoying a meal with their family and friends is having a medical emergency brought on by a food allergy,” Venkat stated. “Rep. Mihalek and I want to help ensure there are measures in place to keep Pennsylvanians protected from accidental food allergen exposures and their hazardous health effects.”

Mihalek emphasized the potential dangers faced by those with food allergies, saying, “The scariest part is that someone with food allergies could do everything right, such as carrying EpiPens and asking questions, and still have a serious problem. A little information can go a long way in avoiding future catastrophes. I’m happy to be working with Rep. Venkat on this bipartisan bill.”

Statistics indicate that over 33 million Americans suffer from food allergies, resulting in approximately 200 deaths annually. Data over a 13-year period show nearly half of fatal reactions occurred due to accidental exposure in restaurants or other establishments.

An earlier version of the bill received bipartisan support in the state House during the previous session.

For more information, media contacts are Jordan Frei for Representative Natalie Mihalek at 724-875-8450 or jfrei@pahousegop.com, and Andrew F. Hrip for Representative Arvind Venkat at 717-787-7895 or jfrei@pahousegop.com.