The California Senate Education Committee passed a bipartisan bill to phase out ultra-processed food in public school lunches. Known as Assembly Bill 1264, the bill, which was introduced by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), would create a legal definition of ultra-processed food or UPF in the United States.
The first-in-the-nation legislation would protect children from hyperpalatable chemicals found in UPF, which have been linked to adverse health affects including cancer, cardiovascular or metabolic disease, developmental or reproductive harms, obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
“In California, Democrats and Republicans are joining forces to prioritize the health and safety of our children, and we are proud to be leading the nation with a bipartisan, science-based approach,” Gabriel said. “This new legislation will ensure that schools are serving our students the healthy, nutritious meals they need and deserve.”
According to Environmental Working Group (EWG), experts will consider whether UPF is “particularly harmful” using the following criteria:
- The product includes additives that are banned, restricted or subject to warnings in other jurisdictions.
- Based on scientific research, the product or its ingredients are linked to cancer, cardiovascular or metabolic disease, developmental or reproductive harms, obesity, Type 2 diabetes or other health harms.
- The product or its ingredients contribute to food addiction.
- The product is high in fat, sugar or salt.
“AB 1264 takes an important step toward protecting student health by identifying and removing the most harmful ultra-processed foods from California schools,” Bernadette Del Chiaro, Environmental Working Group’s senior vice president for California, said. “We commend Assemblymember Gabriel and all of the bill’s co-authors for taking commonsense steps toward better protecting the well-being of California’s children.”
With California schools projected to provide over 1 billion meals this school year, AB 1264 would ensure children have access to healthy and nutritious foods, according to a press release. The bill still needs to be passed by the Legislature before being signed into law.
“Healthy school meals are the fastest, most powerful way to create a healthier future for our children and our nation,” Nora LaTorre, CEO of Eat Real, bill cosponsor and coalition partner of Environmental Working Group (EWG), said.
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