Food allergy posters now required in Texas restaurants

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Beginning Sept. 1, restaurants across Texas will be required to display food allergy awareness posters in the hopes of saving lives and preventing unknown allergens in foods.

Last year, new requirements went into effect requiring restaurants to display a food allergy awareness poster that includes major food allergies, symptoms and how to respond to an allergic reaction.

The new requirements come after Sergio Alexander Lopez of McAllen died from an allergic reaction to peanut butter despite asking restaurant employees if the food was safe to eat. The law is known as the Sergio Lopez Food Allergy Awareness Act.

Authored by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, the bill was filed without the governor’s signature on June 18, 2023.

Restaurants applying for new or renewed certifications after Sept. 1, 2024 will be required to display the poster.