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A07622 Summary:BILL NO A07622
SAME AS Same as S 5925
SPONSOR Ortiz (MS)
COSPNSR Clark, Spano
MLTSPNSR Benedetto, Galef, Koon, Perry, Rivera J, Sweeney, Weisenberg
Amd S1352-b, Pub Health L
Requires the commissioner of health to establish means of educating proprietors
and employees of public eating establishments about food allergens.
A07622 Actions:BILL NO A07622
04/17/2009 referred to health
05/05/2009 reported
05/07/2009 advanced to third reading cal.541
05/11/2009 passed assembly
05/11/2009 delivered to senate
05/11/2009 REFERRED TO HEALTH
01/06/2010 DIED IN SENATE
01/06/2010 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
01/06/2010 ordered to third reading cal.508
A07622 Votes:BILL: A07622 DATE: 05/11/2009 MOTION: YEA/NAY: 140/000
Abbate Y Cahill Y Errigo Y Hyer-Sp Y Mayerso Y Quinn Y Stirpe Y
Alessi Y Calhoun Y Espaill Y Jacobs Y McDonou Y Rabbitt Y Sweeney Y
Alfano Y Camara Y Farrell Y Jaffee Y McEneny Y Raia Y Tedisco Y
Amedore Y Canestr Y Fields Y Jeffrie Y McKevit Y Ramos Y Thiele Y
Arroyo Y Carrozz Y Finch Y John Y Meng Y Reilich Y Titone Y
Aubry Y Castro Y Fitzpat Y Jordan Y Miller Y Reilly Y Titus Y
Bacalle Y Christe Y Gabrysz Y Kavanag Y Millman Y Rive J Y Tobacco Y
Ball Y Clark Y Galef Y Kellner Y Molinar ER Rive N Y Towns ER
Barclay Y Colton Y Gantt ER Kolb Y Morelle Y Rive PM Y Townsen Y
Barra Y Conte Y Gianari Y Koon Y Nolan Y Robinso Y Walker Y
Barron Y Cook Y Giglio Y Lancman Y Oaks Y Rosenth Y Weinste ER
Benedet Y Corwin Y Glick Y Latimer Y O'Donne Y Russell Y Weisenb Y
Benjami Y Crouch Y Gordon Y Lavine Y O'Mara Y Saladin Y Weprin Y
Bing Y Cusick Y Gottfri Y Lentol Y Ortiz Y Sayward Y Wright Y
Boyland ER Cymbrow Y Gunther Y Lifton Y Parment Y Scarbor ER Zebrows Y
Boyle Y DelMont Y Hawley Y Lope PD Y Paulin Y Schimel Y Mr Spkr Y
Bradley Y DenDekk Y Hayes Y Lope VJ Y Peoples Y Schimmi Y
Brennan Y Destito Y Heastie Y Lupardo Y Peralta Y Schroed Y
Brodsky Y Dinowit Y Hevesi Y Magee Y Perry Y Scozzaf Y
Brook-K Y Duprey Y Hikind Y Magnare Y Pheffer Y Seminer Y
Burling Y Eddingt Y Hooper Y Maisel ER Powell Y Skartad Y
Butler Y Englebr Y Hoyt Y Markey ER Pretlow Y Spano Y
A07622 Memo:BILL NUMBER:A7622
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, in relation to
food allergen information
PURPOSE OF BILL: To educate proprietors and employees of public eating
establishments about the dangers of severe food allergens to food aller-
gic people.
EFFECTS OF PRESENT LAW WHICH THIS BILL WOULD ALTER: Amends Section
heading 1352b of the Public Health Law to add food allergen information.
Adds a new subdivision 3 to section 1352-b of the Public Health Law
requiring information about the danger of severe food allergens to food
allergic individuals be provided to proprietors and employees of food
establishments.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: The Commissioner would adopt and
approve information to educate proprietors and employees of public
eating establishments about the dangers of severe food allergens to food
allergic individuals. Such information shall include, but not be limited
to: The need to inform customers of the presence of allergens in food or
meals on the menu or through verbal descriptions; the possibility of
cross- contamination of a food with an allergen during food preparation
and the need to inform customers of that possibility; and, the symptoms
of severe allergic reactions to food and the need for rapid response to
such emergencies.
The Commissioner would then supply the information to the proprietor of
every public eating establishment in NYS and develop regulations for
distributing or posting such information.
JUSTIFICATION: Nearly 11 million Americans suffer from food allergies,
including approximately 2 million school-aged children. All of these
individuals are at risk for potentially life- threatening allergic
reactions resulting in over 30,000 emergency room admissions each year
and between 150 and 200 annual deaths; many of these are young children
and young adults. Eight foods account for 90% of all reactions in the
U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews,
pistachios, pecans, etc.), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Because
trace amounts of these foods can cause a reaction it is imperative that
parents and children can easily identify and avoid those products.
Although many allergic individuals or their parents are extremely care-
ful about foods they eat or prepare there are times when they must rely
on others to inform them of the presence of dangerous allergens. When
they eat at a restaurant, a cafeteria, or a catered event they usually
ask the server or the food preparer if any dangerous ingredients may be
present in the food item or used in the kitchen. Owners and employees of
such establishments must know how important it is to answer those ques-
tions fully and accurately, even if it means admitting they can't be
sure.
Because this can be a matter of life and death, the Health department
should prepare an explanation of the dangers of severe allergens, the
importance of informing customers about their potential presence, the
severity of the allergic reactions, and the need to respond quickly if
there is a severe reaction. This information can be communicated easily
to owners and employees to help reduce the risks of illness or death
much the same way food establishments post signs for choking. Informa-
tion about allergic reactions does not need to be posted for the general
public but all workers who prepare or serve food should know what they
can do to protect allergic people, especially children.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2005/06 - A8066 - Ref to health 2007/08 - A5086 -
ref to health
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: Costs to the State
of preparing and distributing information.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 180 days after it becomes a law, provided that any rule
or regulation necessary for the timely implementation of this act has
been promulgated by the Commissioner of Health.
CONTACT: Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy 455-5203
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