New York City Councilman David Greenfield is proposing legislation that would require restaurants in the city to put up posters warning customers if certain menu items contain any of the top 8 allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, soy, wheat, fish, or shellfish).
But Andrew Moesel, a spokesman for the New York State Restaurant Association has denounced the proposal. He believes the industry is over-regulated. New York restaurants already have to list calorie counts on all menu items and will soon face a ban on large sizes of soda and other sugary-drinks.
Many restaurants already warn customers about potential allergens,
but they do so voluntarily. New York is also home to many restaurants that are vegan, gluten-free or free from other types of allergens.
Who’s on the right side of this argument? When safety is on the line, can customers rely on poorly trained waitstaff? Should all restaurants be forced to list their ingredients on menus, or should it be up to patrons to seek the information they need?
