HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

159

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the department of health to implement a program to require food establishments to post notices warning that some food prepared or offered for sale for consumption may contain peanuts or products derived from peanuts.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, according to the Mayo Clinic, peanut allergy is common and often appears in the first years of life; and

 

     WHEREAS, while many children outgrow allergies to other foods such as milk or eggs, most children do not outgrow peanut allergy as they get older; and

 

     WHEREAS, peanut allergy occurs when a person's immune system develops allergy-type antibodies to peanut proteins and mistakenly identifies the proteins as something harmful; and

 

     WHEREAS, an allergic reaction to peanuts can range from a minor irritation to a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction that constricts the airways and blocks breathing; and

 

     WHEREAS, even people who have only had a mild reaction in the past are at risk of a more serious future reaction; and

 

     WHEREAS, exposure to peanuts that trigger peanut allergy can occur in three ways, the most common of which is by direct contact such as eating peanuts or peanut-containing foods; and

 

     WHEREAS, exposure can also occur via cross-contact when peanuts are unintentionally introduced during processing or handling of a food product; and

 

     WHEREAS, the least common type of contact is through inhalation of dust or aerosols containing peanuts, such as peanut flour or peanut oil cooking spray; and

 

     WHEREAS, individuals who may suffer serious harm through inadvertent exposure to foods containing peanuts at food establishments can very easily obtain relief if they are informed prior to any exposure by the simple posting of warning signs; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is urged to take positive steps to protect individuals from peanut allergy in food establishments; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department is specifically requested to implement a program to require:

 

(1)  All food establishments in the State, if the establishment prepares or offers food that contains peanuts or products derived from peanuts for human consumption, to post a notice stating that some food prepared or offered for sale for consumption may contain peanuts or products derived from peanuts;

 

(2)  That the notice may be either a stand-alone sign conspicuously displayed in plain view of customers of the food establishment or a statement printed on each menu of the food establishment;

 

(3)  Inspection of the posting requirement by a registered sanitarian; and

 

(4)  Penalties to be imposed for violations; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Peanut Allergy; Food Establishment Notices; Inspection