Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed a bill making California the first state to ban “ultra-processed foods” from public school meals. Under Assembly Bill 1264, the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment will establish scientific criteria to define “ultra-processed foods of concern” by June 1, 2028, based on “evidence linking specific products to health risks such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and metabolic or behavioral disorders.”
Schools will begin removing those foods from menus in 2029, with vendors prohibited from selling them on campuses by 2032. By 2035, no breakfast or lunch program may serve the identified products, except for limited fundraising exemptions.
The extent of the ramifications of the law will ultimately depend on how the state office defines “ultra-processed.” The measure’s broad scope and long timeline leave room for debate over cost, practicality, and science. NCC plans to weigh in with recommendations for defining “ultra-processed foods.”
