Southwest Allegheny News

State Representatives Natalie Mihalek and Arvind Venkat have successfully advanced a bill through the Pennsylvania House aimed at enhancing food allergy safety. The legislation passed with a 150-52 vote and seeks to implement measures in restaurants and food establishments to better inform patrons and staff about potential allergens.

The proposed law would require menus to include disclaimers about food allergies. Additionally, it mandates that posters be displayed in areas where food is prepared and served, ensuring that servers are aware of any potential allergens present.

Representative Venkat expressed the importance of the bill, stating, "This bill would put in place commonsense food safety practices focused on preventing food allergy exposures and, most importantly, saving as many lives as possible." He extended his gratitude to Representative Mihalek for her collaboration on the initiative.

Mihalek highlighted the significance of the issue: "Food safety continues to be an important topic, and for good reason, as our citizens deserve to have confidence that the food they are eating doesn’t pose a threat. This bill is just one important step in providing that confidence."

Statistics indicate that over 33 million Americans suffer from food allergies, which result in approximately 200 deaths annually. A significant portion of fatal reactions occur due to accidental exposure at dining establishments.

The legislation will now proceed to the state Senate for further consideration.