California Bill Would Remove Ultra-Processed Foods from School Lunches
On June 3, a bipartisan coalition of the California State Assembly voted to pass AB 1264, which puts forth a plan to remove “particularly harmful” ultra-processed foods from the state’s school meals.
The bill, originally introduced in March 2025 by California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-46), would require California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to define “particularly harmful ultra-processed food” on or before July 1, 2026.
The bill would require schools to begin to phase out particularly harmful ultra-processed foods no later than January 1, 2028. Beginning January 1, 2032, the bill would prohibit a vendor from offering particularly harmful ultra-processed foods to a school.
“This bill, beginning July 1, 2035, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, from offering a nutritionally adequate breakfast or lunch that includes particularly harmful ultra-processed foods, as provided, and would prohibit a school operated and maintained by a school district or county office of education from selling food or beverages, except for food items sold as part of a school fundraising event, containing those particularly harmful ultra-processed foods, as provided,” the legislation summary states.
Because a violation of the outlined provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
“Our public schools should not be serving students ultra-processed food products filled with chemical additives that can harm their physical and mental health and interfere with their ability to learn,” said Assemblymember Gabriel upon introducing AB 1264 back in March. “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. This new legislation will ensure that schools are serving our students the healthy, nutritious meals they need and deserve.”
Over the past two years, California has passed—with strong bipartisan support— two food safety-related laws authored by Gabriel.
Looking for quick answers on food safety topics?
Try Ask FSM, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask FSM →
Specifically, passed in October 2023, the California Food Safety Act banned four dangerous additives from all foods sold in California. Similarly, the California School Food Safety Act, passed in September 2024, prohibits the use of certain harmful synthetic food dyes in school meals.
The latest bill, AB 1264, has yet to be passed by the California Senate and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Update, July 3, 2025: AB 1264 has been approved unanimously by the California Senate Education Committee.
