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Bill

SB 183

Restaurants; identifying markers on delivery/carry out food due to consumer-identified food allergy.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Angelia Graves

Virginia bill requires restaurants to label delivery/carry-out food with allergen markers when customers report allergies, aiming to prevent accidental allergic reactions.

Approved by Governor-Chapter 939 (effective 7/1/2026)
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Bill Summary · SB 183

Legislative bill overview

SB 183 requires restaurants to place identifying markers (such as labels or tags) on delivery and carry-out food items that contain allergens identified by customers. The bill aims to reduce the risk of accidental allergen exposure when customers receive their orders outside of direct server-customer interaction.

Why is this important

Food allergies affect millions of Americans and can cause severe, life-threatening reactions. Without visible allergen identification on packaged food, delivery and carry-out customers cannot verify their orders contain safe ingredients before consumption. Clear marking systems could prevent emergency situations and deaths related to undisclosed allergens.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden: Restaurants may face costs and operational challenges in developing and maintaining reliable marking systems, particularly small businesses with limited staff
  • Standardization ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify what "identifying markers" must look like, potentially creating confusion about compliance standards and effectiveness
  • Liability questions: Unclear whether restaurants bear legal responsibility if markers are missed, misapplied, or if customers ignore them, potentially creating significant liability exposure
  • Customer verification accuracy: The system depends on customers accurately communicating allergies and restaurants correctly identifying and marking all allergen-containing items, creating multiple failure points

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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