A massive wave of consumer class actions targeting food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers is sweeping across industries as the plaintiffs' bar aggressively targets product labeling and advertising under California's consumer protection statutes. Companies should be aware of these practices and develop a plan to lessen the risk of receiving such claims.
In his veto letter, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he agreed with Senate Bill 682’s goal of phasing-out “forever chemicals” from consumer products, but said the bill would sacrifice Californians' ability to afford household products like cookware.
Senate Bill 68 (SB 68), titled, the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act (ADDE), will apply to chain restaurants with 20 or more locations by January 1, 2026.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1264, titled, the Real Food, Healthy Kids Act, establishes a legal definition for ultra-processed foods, and tasks the state Department of Public Health with identifying and banning particularly harmful ultra-processed foods from California schools.
California Assembly Bill (AB) 1264 has passed the Senate, and now awaits final approval before being sent to the Governor. AB 1264 would define “ultra-processed foods” (UPFs), and would require “UPFs of concern” to be identified and phased out of schools.
Despite a lack of scientific support to justify a carcinogenic risk determination, hundreds of companies have been sued under California's Prop 65 for failing to provide a "clear and reasonable" warning on food products containing acrylamide.
The bill’s passage by the California State Assembly comes on the heels of two other food safety-related bills authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and passed into law.
In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Alex Truelove, Legislation and Policy Manager at the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), about a California law that makes big changes to compliance on compostable products, including food packaging, in the state. The law, which goes into effect in 2026, could have a "ripple effect" on the rest of the country.
California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel has introduced a bill that aims to define and identify “ultra-processed foods” so that they can be phased out of state public schools.
Regulated food businesses should review their portfolio of products sold in California for use of the short-form or long-form Proposition 65 warning labels, which will be required in the state starting January 1, 2028.
