AT A GLANCE
- California schools will have 10 years to phase out ultraprocessed foods.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law Wednesday.
- The state health department will define which foods are banned by 2028.
- Officials say the policy could save money while improving kids’ health.
California Leads National Push for Healthier School Meals
California just made history by becoming the first state to phase ultraprocessed foods out of public school meals. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the landmark legislation Wednesday at Belvedere Middle School in Los Angeles, describing it as a bipartisan step forward for children’s health.
The new law bans what it calls “ultraprocessed foods of concern” from school breakfasts and lunches, giving districts a full decade to transition. The state’s Department of Public Health has until June 2028 to determine which foods meet that definition, based on scientific evidence of health risks and addictive potential. Schools must start phasing out those items by 2029 and complete the process by 2035.
A National Appetite for Change
“This is about parents wanting the same thing — no matter their politics,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, the Democrat who authored the bill. “Healthy, real food for our kids.”
Gabriel pointed to districts already shifting away from processed meals, noting they’ve saved money in the process. “It doesn’t cost more to do the right thing,” he said.
California’s action builds on a series of food-safety measures, including bans on artificial dyes and certain additives. Earlier this year, Newsom also issued an executive order directing state agencies to curb ultraprocessed foods and chemical additives.
Health and Policy Momentum Spreads Beyond California
Across the country, other states are following suit. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have already signed similar legislation restricting artificial dyes and additives in school meals — both inspired, in part, by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” campaign.
But Gabriel was quick to point out California’s head start. “We’ve been doing this work long before anyone heard of them,” he said.
At Wednesday’s signing, Newsom reflected on the shift in tone from critics: “No one understood it when we started talking about Skittles. Now even conservative states are trying to get in on this, which is both interesting and kind of wonderful.”
