Food Trucks and Pop-Ups: You're Exempt from SB-68 (But Here's Why You Should Comply Anyway)
California's SB-68 explicitly exempts mobile food operations. You're off the hook legally. But a 12-item food truck menu takes 10 minutes to disclose — and the stronger legal defense is worth it.
You're Legally Exempt
SB-68 applies to food facilities with 20+ locations. But even beyond the size threshold, the law explicitly exempts two categories:
- Compact mobile food operations — food trucks, carts, trailers
- Nonpermanent food facilities — pop-ups, farmers market vendors, catering-only operations
This means no inspector will cite you for missing allergen disclosure. You have zero legal obligation under SB-68. Period.
Why Comply Anyway
1. Liability Doesn't Care About Exemptions
If a customer has an allergic reaction at your food truck, the question in court isn't "were you required by SB-68 to disclose?" It's "did you take reasonable steps to inform your customers about allergens in your food?"
Allergic reaction lawsuits settle for $50,000–$500,000+. Your food truck insurance might cover it, but your premiums will spike — and a voluntary allergen disclosure is your strongest defense that you acted responsibly.
2. Trust Matters More for Food Trucks
A brick-and-mortar restaurant has reputation, reviews, and a physical presence that signals permanence and accountability. A food truck doesn't have that luxury. Customers are already taking a leap of trust eating from a truck.
Showing allergen information — even a simple laminated card on your counter — signals professionalism and care. It tells allergy-conscious customers: "We take this seriously. You're safe here."
3. Your Menu Is Simple
Most food trucks have 8–15 items. Identifying allergens for a focused menu takes minutes, not hours. You probably already know every ingredient in every dish because you designed the menu yourself. Formalizing it into a disclosure is trivial.
4. Other States May Not Exempt You
Michigan, New Jersey, and Illinois all have allergen disclosure bills pending. There's no guarantee they'll include the food truck exemption that California did. If you operate in multiple states or plan to expand, getting ahead of this now avoids scrambling later.
5. Events and Venues May Require It
Many food truck events, festivals, and corporate catering contracts are starting to require allergen disclosure from vendors — regardless of what the law says. Having it ready means you never lose a booking over paperwork.
What Disclosure Looks Like for a Food Truck
You don't need a fancy system. Options that work for mobile operations:
- Laminated card on the counter — list each item with its allergens. Wipe-clean, weather-resistant.
- QR code on the menu board — links to a digital page customers scan with their phone.
- Sticker on the truck — "Ask about allergens" with a QR code or pointer to a printed reference.
For a 12-item menu, you can literally fit the entire disclosure on a single laminated page.
10 Minutes to Compliant
A food truck with a focused menu can go from zero to full allergen disclosure in under 10 minutes:
- Upload or type your menu items (2 minutes)
- Review AI-suggested allergens per item (5 minutes)
- Publish — get a printable chart and QR code (1 minute)
- Laminate the chart, stick the QR code on your truck (2 minutes)
That's it. Done before your next service.
Get Started
MenuComply works for any size operation — including food trucks with 8 items. Upload your menu, verify allergens, print a chart. Free to start.