If you don’t eat eggs, dairy, or shellfish, it’s about to get easier than ever to dine out in California. At the end of 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE) Act into law.
The new law requires any restaurant chain with 20 or more national locations to clearly disclose whether its dishes contain any of the nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame. Restaurants must display allergen information directly on standard menus, in a digital format, or on a separate allergen menu. Restaurant chains across the state have until the beginning of July to comply. Smaller businesses are currently exempt from the legislation.
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The law was primarily passed to make dining out safer for people with food allergies. It was championed by nine-year-old Addie Lao, who lives with multiple food allergies.
“The ADDE bill is so important so adults and kids like me can eat safely,” Lao told Allergic Living. “I learned that even though I’m just a kid, I can make a big difference.”
Nearly half of the major allergens come from animals. As a result, the legislation will also make it easier for vegans and vegetarians who avoid these ingredients to dine out.
“It sets a powerful precedent that will encourage broader adoption across the industry and inspire other states to follow California’s lead,” said Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the nonprofit Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
He added: “This is what progress looks like when advocacy, courage, and common sense come together.”
Dining out is getting more inclusive
Around 33 million Americans live with food allergies. In addition to peanuts and tree nuts, the most common allergens in the US include shellfish and milk. The new guidelines will also support people with lactose intolerance, which research suggests may affect as many as 50 million Americans.
In recent years, allergen-friendly and plant-based dining has become more accessible across the country. For example, several major coffee chains, including Starbucks, Caribou Coffee, and Peet’s Coffee, no longer charge extra for dairy-free milk options such as oat, soy, and coconut.
Dunkin’
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In February 2025, Dunkin’ also dropped its nondairy milk surcharge.
“The power to affect change will always reside with the consumer, and we will never stop advocating for those who are unfairly penalized for being lactose intolerant, having cultural beliefs that refrain from consuming cow’s milk, or maintaining a vegan diet,” said Dotsie Bausch, founder and executive director of Switch4Good, which campaigned for the change.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
