California Passes Bill to Create Certification Seal for Non-Ultra-Processed Foods
The California Legislature has passed Assembly Bill 2244 (AB 2244), which would establish a first-of-its-kind state certification seal for food products that meet standards for not being ultra-processed.
Authored by California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-46), AB 2244 has unanimously passed both the State Senate and Assembly. The legislation now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until September 30, 2026 to sign or veto the bill.
AB 2244 would create a voluntary certification program through which qualifying manufacturers could display a “Non-Ultraprocessed Certified” seal on food packaging. Modeled after the “USDA Organic” label, the certification is intended to help consumers identify products that meet California’s standards for not being ultra-processed.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) would oversee the certification program, under which food manufacturers could apply to accredited certification agents for authorization to use the seal. Grocery stores in California also would be required to display certified products, making them more visible to consumers.
Assemblymember Gabriel’s office previously said the certification program was intended to provide a voluntary incentive for food manufacturers to reformulate products to meet the state’s standards for non-UPFs.
California Builds on Efforts to Regulate Ultra-Processed Foods
If signed by Governor Newsom, AB 2244 would advance California’s ongoing efforts to establish policies around UPFs at a time when the definition and regulation of the category remain subjects of debate among scientists, regulators, public health experts, and industry.
AB 2244 follows California’s Real Food, Healthy Kids Act (AB 1264), which Governor Newsom signed into law in 2025. The law established the country’s first statutory framework for defining ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and created a process for identifying and phasing out certain UPFs from California schools.
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The Real Food, Healthy Kids Act categorizes UPFs as those high in saturated fat, added sugar, or sodium, or which contain non-sugar sweeteners or certain additives like colorants, flavorings, sweeteners, emulsifiers, and thickening agents.
It is possible that California’s definition for UPFs may be superseded by a federal statutory definition for the category, which, as of August 2026, has been drafted and is pending White House review.
