CHAPTER 26

An Act concerning food allergies, supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes and making an appropriation.

      Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

C.26:3E-14 Fact sheet distributed to restaurants relative to nut allergies; definitions.

      1.   The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, in consultation with the New Jersey Restaurant Association, shall prepare a fact sheet, to be directed to restaurant managers and staff, which is designed to explain nut allergies and the health-related consequences to persons with such allergies who are exposed to food items that contain or are prepared with nut products, and includes a recommendation that restaurants identify such food items on their menus. The commissioner shall make this fact sheet available to local boards of health by electronic or other means of distribution, and local health officers shall furnish this information to restaurants at the time of inspection.

      As used in this section:

      "Nut" means: peanuts and tree nuts, including, but not limited to, almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, filberts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts; and

      "Restaurant" means an establishment in which the principal business is the sale of food for consumption on the premises.

C.26:3E-15 "Ask Before You Eat" public information campaign.

      2.   The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services shall conduct, within the limits of monies appropriated pursuant to this act, a public information campaign regarding food allergies, to be known as "Ask Before You Eat." The public information campaign shall be designed to inform the public about food allergies and the health-related consequences, including anaphylaxis, to persons with such allergies who are exposed to food items that contain or are prepared with ingredients that trigger severe allergic reactions, such as peanuts, tree nuts and seafood.

      3. There is appropriated $250,000 to the Department of Health and Senior Services from the General Fund for the purposes of this act.

      4.   This act shall take effect on the 120th day after enactment.

      Approved January 26, 2005.