Growing up with life-threatening allergies isn't just a personal burden, it's a shared family concern. I am 17 years old, and I have lived with life-threatening food allergies my entire life. My younger brother, who is only 20 months old, now faces the same serious condition. I began this initiative at age 16 after recognizing a critical gap in public safety that directly impacts families like mine.

New York State has already taken steps in this direction through legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, which requires EpiPens to be available at large public venues such as stadiums, theaters, and arenas, with trained personnel on-site to respond to emergencies. This policy reflects growing recognition of the importance of rapid access to epinephrine in saving lives during anaphylactic reactions.

For individuals with severe food allergies, dining in restaurants presents a measurable and ongoing risk. Even with careful precautions, accidental exposure due to cross-contamination or undisclosed ingredients can occur, leading to rapid and potentially fatal anaphylactic reactions. In such cases, immediate access to epinephrine, such as an EpiPen, is essential.

This isn't just our story, it's the reality for many families across New York who live with the same fear and worry. When dining out, we should be able to expect a basic level of safety, and that includes access to life-saving interventions. That's why we are calling on all restaurants across New York to stock and maintain accessible epinephrine auto-injectors, such as EpiPen. 

Despite this, most restaurants across New York are neither required nor meaningfully incentivized to stock epinephrine auto-injectors. This gap persists even though restaurants are among the most common locations for food-related allergic reactions. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, over 32 million Americans have food allergies, and approximately 200,000 emergency room visits occur annually due to allergic reactions.

To address this public health concern, I urge the adoption of a statewide policy that includes the following provisions:

• Tax incentives:  Provide refundable tax credits or deductions to restaurants that purchase and maintain epinephrine auto-injectors, helping offset initial and replacement costs.
• Liability protections: Extend Good Samaritan protections to restaurant owners and employees who administer epinephrine in good faith during an emergency, reducing concerns about legal risk.
• Training requirements: Require basic, standardized training for designated staff on recognizing anaphylaxis and properly administering epinephrine, which can be completed through a brief, state-approved course.
• Accessibility and maintenance standards: Require that epinephrine auto-injectors be stored in clearly marked, easily accessible locations and regularly checked to ensure they are not expired.
• Public awareness designation: Allow participating restaurants to display a visible certification or decal indicating that epinephrine is available on-site, promoting transparency and consumer confidence.

Implementing a requirement for restaurants to carry epinephrine auto-injectors would not only offer peace of mind to millions of individuals and their families but could ultimately save lives. It would also align restaurants with existing public safety expectations already in place in other settings.

Let's take action to protect those with severe allergies by ensuring they have the resources they need when dining out. Sign this petition to urge lawmakers and restaurant associations in New York to mandate the availability of epinephrine auto-injectors in all dining establishments. Together, we can make dining safer and more inclusive for everyone!!! :)