SACRAMENTO, California — A bill to ban “ultraprocessed” foods in school lunches is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, after drawing support not only from Democrats, but Republicans who linked the legislation to the MAHA movement.
The proposal would define as ultraprocessed any food or beverage that includes flavor or color enhancers and that is high in saturated fats, sodium, or specific added sugars or sweeteners. Those foods would be phased fully out of schools by July 2032.
The bill’s author, Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, called the moment “historic” and told POLITICO that he’s been working on these issues “before anyone had ever heard of MAHA,” or Make America Healthy Again.
“You’ve seen a lot of folks in Washington D.C. talking about these issues, but we haven’t seen a lot of action,” he said. “We’re actually going to move the needle on protecting kids and protecting families in California.”
How to define ultraprocessed has been hotly contested since the bill, AB 1264, was introduced in February. But Gabriel said in a committee hearing this week that he took more than 50 amendments on the bill, heeding the concerns of lawmakers and agricultural interests groups.
The bill passed both houses with only a single “no” vote. It now goes to Newsom for a signature or veto.
Last year, the governor signed legislation from Gabriel banning food containing certain dyes from being sold in schools by 2027.
A coalition of industry groups, including the American Beverage Association, California Grocers Association and California Farm Bureau, remain opposed. They said in a letter on Monday that the bill ropes in too many unintended foods and would create an “unnecessary liability for schools serving these products, as well as manufacturers producing food subject to these arbitrary definitions.”
Of those critics, Gabriel said, “every member of the state Senate disagrees with them.”
