An Act Requiring Food Allergy Awareness in Restaurants
Effective March 1, 2024, Class 2, 3, and 4 food establishments in Connecticut must display a poster that includes the following information:
- the most common allergy-causing foods;
- the actions a server should take when a customer notifies the server about a food allergy;
- the ways in which kitchen staff and servers can prevent cross-contact of foods; and
- the need to contact 911 if a customer has an allergic reaction at the establishment.
Classification of Food Establishments
As defined in Connecticut General Statutes, Section 19a-36g:
- Class 2 is a retail food establishment “that does not serve a population that is highly susceptible to food-borne illnesses and offers a limited menu of food that is prepared or cooked and served immediately, or that prepares or cooks food that is time or temperature controlled for safety and may require hot or cold holding, but that does not involve cooling;”
- Class 3 is a retail food establishment that “(A) does not serve a population that is highly susceptible to food-borne illnesses, and (B) offers food that is time or temperature controlled for safety and requires complex preparation, including, but not limited to, handling of raw ingredients, cooking, cooling and reheating for hot holding;”
- Class 4 is a retail food establishment that “serves a population that is highly susceptible to food-borne illnesses, including, but not limited to, preschool students, hospital patients and nursing home patients or residents, or that conducts specialized food processes, including, but not limited to, smoking, curing or reduced oxygen packaging for the purposes of extending the shelf life of the food;”
Posting Requirement
Covered food establishments must display this poster in a clear and conspicuous manner in their kitchens or designated staff areas. (Connecticut General Statutes, Sec. 19a-36) Establishments must also ensure that employees view the poster and confirm, in writing, that he or she has familiarized himself or herself with the information displayed on the poster.