Testimony for the California State Senate Health Committee on SB 68
Delivered on behalf of Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE, by Craig Fontenot
Good afternoon, Chair and Members. I’m Craig Fontenot, Chief of Staff and Mission Integration at FARE, Food Allergy Research & Education. I am here at the request of Dr. Sung Poblete, CEO of FARE, who was unable to attend in person.
On behalf of FARE, we respectfully oppose SB 68.
We appreciate Senator Menjivar’s leadership in fostering dialogue between the food allergy community and restaurants. This is not a position we take lightly.
FARE’s mission is to improve the quality of life and health of those living with food allergies through transformative research, education, and advocacy. We have invested over $190 million toward that mission. More than 33 million Americans—including nearly 4 million Californians —live with this potentially life-threatening disease.
FARE is working closely with the California Restaurant Association and other partners to create a shared responsibility for providing safer dining experiences. We believe a solution, engaging all stakeholders, is the right path forward.
Unfortunately, SB 68 focuses narrowly on menus as a point of risk disclosure—but menus cannot capture allergen risks introduced through sourcing, manufacturing, or cross-contact during prep in kitchens. As written, the bill would create a false sense of security for food allergy families.
Moreover, the bill prioritizes litigation and penalties before we have had a chance to collaborate on dynamic technology solutions—and the timeline of July 2026 risks driving rushed, unsustainable fixes. Many restaurants, particularly small and family-owned businesses, may respond by excluding food allergy diners altogether or face financial hardship.
California is a culinary leader. We can build a model of true partnership that sets the standard nationwide —protecting food allergy families without unintended harm to businesses.
We look forward to further discussions with the author and stakeholders to find a comprehensive end-to-end solution. Thank you for your leadership.
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About FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education)
FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is the leading nonprofit organization that empowers the food allergy patient across their journey of managing the disease. FARE delivers innovation by focusing on three strategic pillars—advocacy, research, and education. FARE’s initiatives accelerate the future of food allergy through effective policies and legislation, novel strategies toward prevention, diagnosis, treatment and a cure, while building awareness and community. To learn more, visit FoodAllergy.org.