Connecticut
CT kids hospitalized after eating in restaurants urge passage of food allergens bill
A bill passed in the state House this week would mandate that restaurants train employees in food allergen awareness, and to provide ingredient lists upon request to customers, to protect diners with food allergies.
HB 5902 also would require the state Department of Public Health to develop guidelines on restaurant training. HB 5902 is now on the state Senate calendar.
The DPH commissioner and the CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association oppose the bill, arguing that recently implemented health regulations already deal effectively with allergens.
“The CRA believes the current DPH regulations are sufficient and will continue to help ensure public safety while also educating restaurant employees on the dangers of food allergies,” Scott Dolch, CEO of CRA, testified during committee hearings in February.
DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani testified “Effective February 16th, 2023, DPH implemented new food safety regulations, in compliance with the United States Food and Drug Administration Food Code. This bill duplicates food allergy requirements for retail food establishments detailed in these regulations.”
But supporters of the bill, including youths with severe food allergies, say that the existing law isn’t enough. Three young people testified that they’d feel less scared eating at a restaurant if an additional law was in place.
Robert Vine, a high school student in Greenwich, testified he had an anaphylactic reaction that caused his throat to bleed for two days, after a waiter did not inform him that his dessert had a raw egg in it. Earlier in the meal, he told the waiter he was allergic to raw eggs.
“Many restaurant workers, despite their best intentions, lack critical education in food allergies to the point that they think that they are dietary preferences as opposed to life-threatening conditions,” Vine testified. “Had this otherwise wonderful waiter received the basic 20 minutes of training this bill is proposing, this never would have happened.”
Maia Coplit said the bill would force restaurants to examine not only their own food creations, but food brought in from other sources, such as bread. The Greenwich high school student is allergic to nuts and sesame.
“There have been multiple times in the past where I’ve trusted a restaurant because of how much they assured me or because they seemed experienced, only to end up in the emergency room,” Coplit testified. “I’ve spent hours on end in the dead of night sitting in the ER because of the fact so many people are unaware of this serious issue.”
Alexander Darmofal, age 12, said he has been advocating for such a bill since he was 6 years old. Darmofal’s parents, Jason and Vanessa Darmofal, testified on his behalf in favor of a similar bill, HB5158 in 2018. That bill did not pass.
Alexander Darmofal, who is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, said his family goes to only a few restaurants whose employees they trust.
“Kids who don’t have many allergies but have some can only eat at a few restaurants. Other people with lots of allergies can’t eat out at all,” he testified. “It makes things uncomfortable when out at a restaurant and the waiter or waitress thinks you are speaking another language when you tell them about your allergies.”
Vine said when his family traveled to Ireland, the training mandated by European Union law made eating out easier.
“Each waiter was trained to ask for our allergies as soon as we sat down. Each menu item was labeled with the allergens it contained,” he testified. “Suddenly, virtually all the discomfort of eating out went away. I knew which foods were safe for me and which weren’t, and was incredibly reassured by the attentiveness of waiters towards this issue.”
The bill was sponsored by Sens. Matthew L. Lesser and Saud Anwar, and Reps. Robin E. Comey, Stephen R Meskers, David Michel, Eleni Kavros DeGraw, Dorinda Borer, Gary A. Turco, Patricia A. Dillon and Christopher Poulos.
Comey, who has sponsored similar bills in the past, has a son with food allergies.
“It’s one of the reasons why I became interested in and passionate about policy work, because I know that good policy has the potential to be life-saving,” Comey said.
It passed out of the Public Health Committee by a 25-12 vote and out of the House by a 98-53 vote.
Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.
Patch PM CT brings you the breaking and trending news stories from all across Connecticut each weeknight. Here are those stories:
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Gov. Ned Lamont announced a new key player in his administration Tuesday.
Matt Brokman, a senior advisor to the governor since January 2023, will take on the role as Lamont’s chief of staff, effective immediately.
Brokman, previously chief of staff for House Majority Leader Jason Rojas and former Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz, has also worked in the Connecticut House Democrats Office.
“I think people in this building on both sides of the aisle know him,” Lamont said of Brokman. “They know they can take him at his word, and I think that’s going to be incredibly valuable for us as a state going forward for the next two years.”
With the next regular legislative session about six months away, crafting Connecticut’s next biennium budget is at the forefront. Lamont has said the next budget cycle could be “complicated,” with the state required to spend the last of American Rescue Plan Act funds by the end of 2026.
Brokman replaces Jonathan Dach, who stepped away as Lamont’s chief of staff after a year and a half in the role, citing a move to New York.
Speaking Tuesday, Lamont praised Dach’s work in the “round the clock” chief of staff job, and in various other positions in his administration over the last six years.
Dach said he will continue working with the governor in a senior advisory role on policy projects, such as energy supply, higher education and housing.
The next regular legislative session runs from early January to June 2025
(WFSB) – A clothing store announced the eventual closure of all of its Connecticut locations.
Bob’s Stores said on Monday that as part of a chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring plan, all of its locations, including the 10 in Connecticut, will close.
Hilco Merchant Resources in a joint venture with Gordon Brothers will manage an inventory liquidation event that will include all Bob’s Stores throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.
The business said that as part of the liquidation, there has been “unprecedented discounts” on a wide range of workwear, footwear, team wear, and everyday clothing. The “going out of business sale” started on June 28 with discounts that ranged from 30 to 70 percent off.
Select store fixtures, furniture, and equipment were also available for sale.
“We regret that our financial position necessitated the liquidation of Bob’s Stores,” said Dave Barton, president of Bob’s Stores. “Bob’s has been a stalwart of our local communities for nearly 70 years, and we know our customers remember us as having been there for major moments in their lives. We remain grateful to our vendors, suppliers, customers and employees for all of their support over the years.”
The business said gift cards and merchandise credits would be honored through close of business on July 14.
It also said all sales are final. No returns will be accepted. Exchanges will be accepted in accordance with the company’s existing policies through the close of business on July 14. No exchanges for purchases made after that date will be accepted.
Here are the 10 Bob’s locations in Connecticut:
- Ansonia
- Hamden
- Manchester
- Middletown
- Milford
- Newington
- Simsbury
- Southington
- Waterbury
- Waterford
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