Budget Amendment ID: FY2025-S4-394

EHS 394

Food Allergy Awareness in the Food Service Industry

Ms. Creem, Messrs. Eldridge, Feeney, Gomez and Lewis, Ms. Kennedy, Ms. Rausch and Messrs. Payano, Collins, Tarr, O'Connor and Cronin moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following sections:-

"SECTION ___. Section 6B of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting in place thereof the following:-

(c) A person in charge and certified food protection manager, as those terms are used in the state sanitary code for food establishments, shall view a video or online course concerning food allergies. The department shall approve the video or online course in consultation with the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, Food Allergy Research & Education, and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter, and the video or online course shall: (1) be accredited by a national accreditation agency; (2) be interactive; (3) include a knowledge check or other means of verifying that the viewer has carefully reviewed and understood the video or online course; and (4) feature the most up-to-date information on food allergies, including information related to additions to the list of allergens labeled under the Food Allergy Label Consumer Protection Act and the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021. The department shall review its approval of the video or online course at least every 5 years and approve a new video or online course if necessary to satisfy the requirements of this subsection. A person designated as an alternate person-in charge, as that term is used in the state sanitary code for food establishments, in addition to existing requirements, shall be knowledgeable with regard to the relevant issues concerning food allergies as they relate to food preparation, plating, and service. At all times when open and serving food, a person licensed as an innholder, or common victualler shall have at least one employee present who has viewed the approved video or online course concerning food allergies.

SECTION ___. Said section 6B of said chapter 170 is hereby further amended by striking out, each time they appear, the words 'Massachusetts Restaurant Association and the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network' and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following:-

'Massachusetts Restaurant Association, Food Allergy Research & Education, and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter'"