Key Points:
- Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law banning “ultraprocessed foods of concern” from public school breakfasts and lunches.
- The state’s Department of Public Health must define which foods qualify by mid-2028.
- Schools must begin phasing them out by July 2029 and fully eliminate them by 2035, with vendors banned by 2032.
Landmark Nutrition Reform Takes Effect in Schools
California is now the first state in the U.S. to legislate against serving certain ultraprocessed foods to students. With bipartisan backing, Gov. Newsom signed the bill into law on Wednesday at a middle school in Los Angeles, marking a major shift in school nutrition standards.
The CA law establishes a new statutory definition of ultraprocessed foods—those that contain additives like stabilizers, colorings, sweeteners, and high levels of saturated fat, sodium, or added sugar. The state’s Public Health Department has until June 2028 to designate which specific products fall under the “foods of concern” definition.
Schools will start removing these products beginning July 2029, and by July 2035 they are prohibited from serving them at all. Vendors supplying schools must also comply by 2032. Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who authored the bill, emphasized that schools already moving in this direction have found cost savings or no net expense increase.
Health Impacts, Implementation Hurdles, and National Context
The move is a response to the growing body of evidence linking high consumption of ultraprocessed foods to obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other adverse health outcomes. Currently, U.S. children consume nearly 62% of their calories from such foods.
Critics warn the law could strain school districts without additional funding or clarity on what foods will be banned. Some districts worry about menu flexibility and food supply constraints. Supporters argue that early adopters already show positive outcomes and that California’s rule could spur nationwide reforms.
This legislation builds on Newsom’s earlier executive order targeting ultraprocessed foods and restrictions on harmful additives and dyes. At the signing, Newsom stated, “This first-in-the-nation law … builds on that work to make sure every California student has access to healthy, delicious meals.”
As states across the country introduce over 100 bills aiming to regulate ultraprocessed foods, California’s initiative may serve as a blueprint for national policy shifts.
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