California SB 68: what restaurants need to know (2026)
A plain-English guide to the ADDE Act: who it covers, what your menu needs, what's exempt and how to get compliant.
MenuIQ team · Oct 27, 2026 · 5 min read
On July 1, 2026, California became the first state to require allergen information on restaurant menus. If you run a chain with a California location, it may apply to you.
SB 68, officially the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE) Act, was signed on October 13, 2025. It requires covered restaurants to tell guests, in writing, which major allergens are in every standard menu item. "SB 68" and "ADDE Act" are the same law.
Health departments and associations are welcome to link to this guide. https://menuiq.ai/blog/california-sb-68
Jul 1 2026 effective date · 20+ locations per brand · 9 major allergens · Local health dept. enforcement
Who has to comply
SB 68 borrows its threshold from federal calorie labeling. If your menu already has to show calories, it almost certainly has to show allergens. It applies when a brand meets all three tests:
- 20+ locations — Every location under the brand, in any state.
- Same name and menu — Substantially the same menu items.
- One in California — A single California location is enough.
Franchised and company-owned locations count together, and every location counts, not only the ones in California. Restaurant groups with several concepts check each brand on its own. A few regional dishes don't exempt a menu that's otherwise the same.
The 9 major allergens
You must disclose any of these that you know, or reasonably should know, are ingredients in a dish. The usual suspects hide in sauces, dressings and fry batter.
- Milk — Butter, cheese, cream, whey
- Eggs — Mayo, aioli, fresh pasta
- Fish — Anchovy, fish sauce, Worcestershire
- Crustacean shellfish — Shrimp, crab, lobster
- Tree nuts — Almonds, cashews, pesto
- Peanuts — Satay, mole, some desserts
- Wheat — Bread, batter, roux, soy sauce
- Soybeans — Tofu, edamame, miso
- Sesame — Tahini, hummus, buns
How to disclose allergens
You have two options. Either way, use plain allergen names ("milk," "sesame") or standardized pictograms.
A QR menu needs a printed backup at every California location.
- Option A: On the menu — Allergens next to or directly below each item.
- Option B: Digital, plus a printed backup — A QR code or link, plus an allergen chart, grid or booklet on site.
Which menus count
Any menu a guest uses to choose what to order. They should all match.
- Printed menus
- Menu boards
- Drive-thru
- Kiosks
- Websites
- Apps
- QR menus
- Delivery and online ordering
When SB 68 doesn't apply
- Brands under 20 locations
- Food trucks and carts
- Temporary booths
- Federally labeled packaged food
SB 68 also doesn't require cross-contact warnings (shared fryers, prep surfaces) or guarantees that a dish is allergen-free. Specials count as exempt when they're sold less than 60 days a year, or fewer than 90 days in a row to test them.
Enforcement and penalties
County and city health departments enforce SB 68 under the California Retail Food Code, with guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). There's no grace period. Under the Retail Food Code, a violation can be a misdemeanor, and repeat or uncorrected violations can lead to fines or permit suspension.
7 steps to comply
- Confirm which brands are covered — Count every location per brand, franchises included.
- Audit every standard item — Check recipes, sauces and supplier specs for all 9.
- Choose how you'll disclose — On the menu, or digital with a printed backup.
- Print the written alternative — A chart or booklet at every California location.
- Match every channel — Menus, boards, kiosks, web and delivery agree.
- Train your staff — The 9 allergens, and where the chart is kept.
- Keep it current — Update and date records when recipes change.
FAQ
Is the ADDE Act the same as SB 68?
Yes. The Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE) Act is the law's official name and SB 68 is its bill number. It amends Section 113820.5 and adds Section 114093.5 to the California Health and Safety Code.
When did SB 68 take effect?
July 1, 2026. There was no grace period, so inspectors can check during any routine inspection.
Do locations outside California count toward the 20?
Yes. Every location under the brand name counts. A brand with 19 locations elsewhere and one in California is covered.
Do franchise locations count?
Yes. Franchised and company-owned locations count together. Groups with several concepts evaluate each brand separately.
Can we use only a QR code?
Only with a written alternative on site, such as an allergen menu, chart, grid or booklet, for guests who can't use it.
Do daily specials need allergen info?
Items sold less than 60 days a year, or fewer than 90 consecutive days to test them, are exempt according to CDPH.
Does SB 68 require cross-contact warnings?
No. It covers the nine allergens you know, or reasonably should know, are ingredients. Cross-contact warnings and allergen-free guarantees aren't required.
Should restaurants under 20 locations disclose anyway?
It isn't required, but about 1 in 10 U.S. adults has a food allergy, and guests increasingly look for allergens before they order.
Sources
- SB-68 Major food allergens, California Legislative Information
- SB 68 Major Food Allergens, CDPH Food and Drug Branch
- Allergen Disclosures: SB 68, California Restaurant Association
General information, not legal advice. For questions about your operation, contact CDPH at [email protected] or your local health department.
Allergen and dietary information is AI-generated and may be incomplete — always confirm with the restaurant.
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