California Moves to Ban Harmful Ultraprocessed Foods From School Meals

School may be out for summer, but California lawmakers are still hard at work shaping what students will find on their lunch trays.

On June 3, the state legislature passed AB 1264, a landmark bill that aims to eliminate “particularly harmful” ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) from public school breakfasts and lunches by 2035. The phased plan—which still awaits approval from the state Senate and Governor Gavin Newsom—could make California the first in the nation to ban certain packaged, chemical-laden foods from its schools.

“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,” the author of the bill Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat representing Encino said in a press release. “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.”

But what exactly qualifies as a “particularly harmful ultraprocessed food”?

Ultraprocessed foods are typically made from low-quality, shelf-stable ingredients and often include products like chips, candy, mass-produced baked goods, instant noodles, soft drinks and artificially flavored snacks. Still, lawmakers will rely on scientists from California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, in collaboration with experts from the University of California, to finalize the definition. If passed, the bill gives scientists until July 2026 to create a clear standard.

According to the bill, a product may be classified as “particularly harmful” based on whether it:

• Contains additives that have been banned, restricted or flagged with warning labels by other state, federal or international bodies
• Includes ingredients linked by scientific research to cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, reproductive or developmental harm
• Has been modified to contain excessive amounts of sugar, salt or fat
• Contributes to food addiction through hyperpalatable or engineered ingredients

“California schools are projected to provide over 1 billion meals this school year. AB 1264 would protect California’s students from harmful, addictive chemicals and ensure that all children – including those from disadvantaged backgrounds – can access healthy and nutritious foods,” Gabriel said.

This bill is the latest in a growing push by California lawmakers to reform school nutrition and food safety. In May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved three new natural food dyes and reaffirmed its commitment to phasing out harmful ones like Red Dye No. 1. Meanwhile, California passed legislation in 2024 banning certain synthetic food dyes in school meals.