Could 26, 2022 (McLean, VA) – In a substantial boost to the food allergy neighborhood, the Westchester County (NY) Board of Legislators unanimously passed the Foods Allergy Restaurant Safety bill on Might 23, making sure that dining establishments have on-website personnel with distinct teaching in food stuff allergy safety. The bill, co-sponsored by Legislator Vedat Gashi (D) and Minority Leader Margaret Cunzio (C), was the final result of efforts by foods allergy advocates and Westchester County inhabitants, Stacey and Jared Saiontz, Patty and Sara Albert, and Zachary Kornblum, as nicely as FARE (Foodstuff Allergy Exploration and Education).
Precisely, the bill needs meals allergy coaching authorized by the County Health and fitness Section as well as posted restaurant signage certifying completion of the training. In addition, symptoms have to be posted figuring out the nine main food stuff allergies, as nicely as the symptoms of an allergic response and suitable ways to take in situation of a response.
“This legislation is the two lifesaving and lifestyle-altering,” claimed Dr. Sung Poblete, CEO of FARE. “Food allergy sufferers can now dine out in Westchester County with greater comfort and ease understanding their meals allergy symptoms are taken critically and that experienced staff are on-hand in the occasion of an unexpected emergency. We will keep on our attempts to advocate on behalf of the food items allergy neighborhood throughout the nation for very similar payments to guard the food items allergic,” she ongoing.
Westchester County foods allergy advocate Stacey Saiontz set the new legislation in perspective declaring, “This monthly bill will effect the approximately 94,000 individuals in Westchester with daily life-threatening food stuff allergic reactions, and will make Westchester dining establishments more attractive to the almost 2 million New Yorkers who also go through from food items allergy symptoms.” Saiontz and her son Jared, who life with 26 everyday living-threatening food allergic reactions, originally satisfied with Legislator Gashi about the value of this legislation again in 2019 and have the two labored tirelessly for larger education and consciousness about this concern in New York.
In testimony ahead of the Board, Jason Linde, Senior Vice President of Governing administration and Local community Relations at FARE, reported, “Currently, foods allergy family members are wary, frightened, and anxious of getting any challenges that might imperil the lives of a liked one, and are desperate for a standard experience when it arrives to foods. The Foodstuff Allergy Cafe Safety monthly bill is exceptionally practical mainly because it delivers a degree of comfort and basic safety for food allergy households that will prompt them to pay a visit to restaurants without the need of the dread that their wellness affliction will be misunderstood.”
FARE appreciates and is grateful for the do the job of Legislators Gashi and Cunzio the aid of the Chair of the Committee on Laws, Legislator Colin Smith the Chair of the Committee on Wellness, Jewel Williams Johnson as well as the initiatives of advocates like Stacey and Jared Saiontz who represent the concerns and fears felt by the more than 95,000 Westchester County people today who are living with lifestyle-threatening foodstuff allergy symptoms.
Westchester County now joins other states and municipalities with similar laws—such as Montgomery County, MD—working to preserve folks with foodstuff allergy symptoms safe. FARE is dedicated to continuing to advocate on behalf of people with everyday living-threatening food stuff allergic reactions and hopes to develop legislative training, consciousness and protection expenses all through the place.