Pupil nutrition: ultraprocessed food.

Assembly Member Gabriel, joined by a bipartisan coalition of legislators, proposes new regulations on ultraprocessed foods in California schools through legislation that would phase out certain products deemed particularly harmful to student health. The bill tasks the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) with defining "particularly harmful ultraprocessed foods" by July 2026 based on peer-reviewed evidence linking ingredients to specific health impacts, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders.

The legislation establishes a multi-year implementation timeline, requiring schools to begin phasing out identified harmful ultraprocessed foods by January 2028, with vendors prohibited from offering these products to schools by January 2032. Starting February 2027, vendors must annually report detailed information about food products sold to schools, including nutritional content, ingredients, and classification status. This data will inform OEHHA's yearly reports to the Legislature and Governor analyzing progress and recommending further policy actions.

The bill defines ultraprocessed foods as products containing specific FDA-regulated substances, such as certain emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners, and synthetic stabilizers. While exempting natural seasonings and small food operations, the legislation permits public entities to adopt more stringent restrictions voluntarily. The measure includes no state reimbursement for local implementation costs, as compliance expenses fall under existing crime and infraction provisions.