Massachusetts Restaurants Now Safer For Food Allergy Patrons Thanks to Food Allergy Mom, Supported by FARE
New Guidance Benefits More than 713,000 Food Allergy Families; Updates 15-Year-Old Law
McLEAN, Va.—November 4, 2024—FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education), the leading nonprofit organization engaged in food allergy education and advocacy—and the largest provider of charitable support for food allergy research in the U.S.— today announced that the sixth state initiative that FARE has endorsed and supported during 2024 has been adopted. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has updated its allergen awareness training requirements to ensure that a restaurant employee with food allergy training is always on duty, citing FARECheck as the model training program.
The changes were driven by a powerhouse food allergy mom, Nicole Arpiarian, whose years-long efforts stemmed from the near loss of her son to an anaphylactic reaction after being served a dessert containing his allergen, despite the restaurant having been informed. FARE supported her efforts, meeting with members of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health earlier this year, discussing the agency’s approach toward updating the Commonwealth’s comprehensive food allergen awareness requirements for retail food establishments, and sharing FARE-created resources.
“For every story that we know of where a restaurant is given the information needed to keep a food allergy patient safe, but fails to act on it, we know there are so many similar stories that haven’t been told,” said Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE. “We are grateful for the work of Nicole Arpiarian, who has been advocating for these changes with her whole heart, and in her journey, has helped make restaurants safer for the 713,000 area food allergy families. FARE is proud to have played a role, and we hope that common sense changes like this one create a model for others to follow to improve restaurant training in more areas.”
In addition to Nicole Arpiarian and FARE, the legislation was backed by nearly half of the Massachusetts Senate and 25 percent of the House as well as other nonprofit organizations.
“I am grateful for the leadership shown by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in adopting these measures to better protect food allergy families like mine,” said Nicole Arpiarian. “This has been a long road, and these important changes will help keep another family from experiencing what ours went through. It’s a step toward ensuring that food allergy families can have more peace of mind when they are dining out, and I’m deeply appreciative of FARE’s support, standing beside me throughout this journey.”
Other FARE-supported legislative initiatives that have been adopted include Delaware’s historic early introduction law, Maryland’s Elijah’s Law, and Virginia’s law that expands epinephrine availability in public places. Advocacy is one of FARE’s three pillars and the organization takes an active role in working to advance both national and state-level initiatives on behalf of the food allergy community.
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About FARE
FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is the leading nonprofit organization that empowers the food allergy patient across the journey of managing their disease. FARE delivers innovation by focusing on three strategic pillars—advocacy, research, and education—united by the through line of health equity. FARE’s initiatives accelerate the future of food allergy through effective policies and legislation, novel strategies toward prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and building awareness and community. For more information, visit FoodAllergy.org.