How restaurant operators can get ahead of the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE) Act before it takes effect in July 2026
If you operate a restaurant in California, a major allergen law is coming, and it’s closer than you think.
California’s SB-68, the ADDE Act, has been signed into law. Starting July 1, 2026, restaurants with 20 or more U.S. locations must clearly identify the nine major allergens on every printed and digital menu.
For many operators, that raises familiar questions:
- How much work will this take?
- What if our vendors don’t provide accurate allergen data?
- What happens if our menus aren’t ready in time?
The good news? compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. Many food businesses have already added accurate allergen information on their menus, and there are systems out there to support you in streamlining allergen data automatically from vendor to your menus.
Why this law matters
Food allergies affect more than 33 million Americans. Until now, restaurants in California were not required to provide allergen information in writing. SB-68 changes that, giving guests greater confidence in what they eat when dining out.
Restaurant operators have traditionally managed allergies through staff training and vendor spec sheets. The ADDE Act, however, introduces a significant operational shift. It requires large chains to not only display allergen information but also verify the accuracy of that data from the supplier declaration through to the final menu. This move from informal tracking to formal, verifiable disclosure is exactly the challenge that digital systems are designed to solve.
Beyond compliance, getting ahead of this regulation can have massive commercial benefits for your business –
| Benefit | Commercial Advantage |
|---|---|
| Brand differentiation | Shows commitment to guest safety and transparency, strengthening reputation. |
| Cost savings | Accurate data reduces waste from mislabeling or unnecessary substitutions. |
| Cross-unit consistency | Maintains standard menus, training, and labeling across multiple locations. |
| Digital oversight | Connected platforms log and update disclosures automatically, providing verifiable evidence. |
| Efficiency saves time | Automatic vendor data updates make compliance routine instead of reactive. |
| Menu innovation | Streamlined ingredient tracking speeds testing of new or reformulated dishes. |
| Regulatory readiness | Supports streamlined processes to prepare for FDA and state-level allergen labeling. |
| Reduce liability risk | Traceable processes minimize human error and demonstrate due diligence. |
| Staff confidence | Accessible data helps teams answer allergen questions consistently and confidently. |
| Transparency builds trust | Guests and employees feel safer, boosting loyalty and satisfaction. |
Where to start
Compliance becomes mandatory in July 2026, but the groundwork starts now. Here are an overview of steps to compliance:
| Step | Action | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assign ownership/roles | Nominate responsible team members for maintaining, reviewing, and approving allergen data to ensure accountability from the outset. |
| 2 | Collect vendor data | Gather allergen information from vendors. A menu management system (MMS) can automatically collect this data via API feeds and centralize it for your locations. |
| 3 | Identify data gaps | Review the collected vendor data to determine which allergens or ingredients are missing or incomplete. |
| 4 | Validate ingredient data | Cross-check vendor-provided allergen data against your recipes and ingredient specifications to ensure accuracy. |
| 5 | Define disclosure format | Decide how allergen information will be displayed to customers – printed, digital, or both – and ensure written alternatives are available for guests with allergies. |
| 6 | Train staff | Ensure front- and back-of-house teams understand how to use allergen data to answer customer questions confidently and consistently. |
| 7 | Set up system for updates | Establish processes and tools for ongoing maintenance, review, and automated updates to ensure continuous compliance. |
Even a basic spreadsheet of ingredients and vendor statements gives you a starting point. From there, digital systems can automate updates and keep everything audit-ready.
Make compliance routine – not a reaction
Operators who automate allergen data flow from vendor inputs through to digital menus find compliance easier and more reliable. With connected systems:
- Efficiency improves: Data updates once, everywhere.
- Oversight is simpler: Every change is tracked, creating verifiable audit records.
- Teams are aligned: Front and back of house share the same information.
When allergen management is integrated into everyday processes, it stops being a compliance burden and becomes a quality standard.
Looking ahead
New regulations often feel disruptive at first, but SB-68 is a chance to modernize how allergen information is managed and shared. Clear, digital workflows can enhance menu accuracy, efficiency, and guest confidence, and protect your business from risk.
Prepare for SB-68 compliance with confidence
Access Nutritics’ expert resources and connected data tools to centralize allergen management, automate updates, and stay compliant under SB-68.
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