California’s New Allergen Disclosure Bill: Red Tape Over Safety or a Genuine Concern?

As California lawmakers prepare to vote on Senate Bill 68, promising the first statewide mandate for restaurants to disclose common food allergens on menus, a critical question looms: is this well-intentioned legislation truly about protecting Americans, or does it represent another costly regulatory overreach that burdens local businesses?Who Bears the Burden of Allergy Disclosure Laws?With an estimated 33 million Americans suffering from food allergies—4 million residing in California alone—the impulse to enhance public safety is understandable. Stories like that of Braxton Kimura, a teenager living in constant fear of accidental exposure to peanuts and shellfish, tug at the heartstrings and...