California has become the first state to phase ultraprocessed food out of school meals after Governor Gavin Newsom signed groundbreaking legislation prohibiting public schools from serving children what it describes as “ultraprocessed foods of concern” in breakfasts or lunches, with a 10-year deadline for full implementation. The bipartisan bill, introduced by state Assembly member Jesse Gabriel, targets foods containing additives like stabilizers, thickeners, colorings, or nonnutritive sweeteners plus high levels of saturated fat, sodium, or added sugar, directing the state Public Health Department to determine which specific products meet the definition by June 2028. Schools must begin phasing out these foods by 2029 and completely eliminate them by 2035, addressing a critical health crisis as American children and adolescents currently consume nearly 62 percent of their calories from ultraprocessed foods linked to cancer, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.
Gabriel, a millennial parent himself, says there’s growing awareness among parents across all political stripes that what we feed our kids connects deeply to their physical health, mental health, and emotional wellbeing, making this a movement that should unite everyone regardless of political ideology. School districts that have already moved in this direction are actually saving money while serving real, healthy food rather than facing higher costs, proving that nutritious meals don’t have to break budgets. The legislation comes amid renewed interest from states and the federal government in making school meals more nutritious, with West Virginia and Texas recently passing similar laws, though California emphasizes their efforts predate recent political movements and represent years of work protecting children’s health. What started with people getting upset about Skittles has now become a nationwide movement with conservative and progressive states jumping over each other to protect kids, proving that sometimes the most important important issues are the ones that affect our children’s futures.
