As you may know, a lot has been happening in the world of public health, and today, I want to discuss a recently introduced bill that could be groundbreaking for the health of school-aged children in California. I recently read an article on the EWG website that discussed a newly introduced bill that, if enacted, would phase out ultra-processed foods from school meals served in the state of California by 2032. If this bill gets enacted, scientists will work to identify the harmful UPFs (ultra-processed foods) linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, neurological and behavioral issues, and other prevalent health concerns, so that steps can be taken to ban their use.
I believe this would be an important bill to enact because children who are learning and growing deserve higher quality foods without chemical additives that interfere with their ability to learn and can harm both physical and mental health.
Fortunately, this bill has bipartisan support. Both Democrats and Republicans are joining efforts to put first the wellness of school-aged children in California. This bipartisan, science-based approach will ensure that schools are serving the healthy, wholesome meals that children deserve.
Why is this bill important?
This bill is important because it would phase out the use of ultra-processed foods from schools in the state of California, and therefore benefit the health of those students in many ways. The truth is that UPFs pose many health threats, especially at a young age. Banning their use in schools would be major progress in the improvements we need to see in public health.
What are ultra-processed foods and why are they harmful?
Ultra-processed foods are industrially manufactured and chemically modified foods that are typically full of additives to enhance their flavor, texture, appearance, and durability. These enhancements cause the consumer to eat more food than they want or need. UPFs are engineered and modified for this particular consumer response—getting people to eat more, and more.
UPFs are harmful because they have been linked to cases of cancer, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, Crohn’s disease, and fatty liver disease. Interestingly, the rate of obesity in the United States has been increasing at approximately the same rate of consumption of ultra-processed foods. Scientific research has also found associations between UPFs and reproductive, neurobehavioral, and mental health disorders.
It’s worrisome that these foods can cause these health harms, but even more concerning that they’re engineered for over consumption. Similar to addictive substances, they light up the part of the brain responsible for perceiving pleasure, making it difficult for people to stop eating once they feel satiated.
Ultra-processed foods are central to the diets of many Americans and the same corporate strategies that got so many people hooked on cigarettes, are also responsible for this shift in nutritional habits of the modern world. As a consequence, we’ve seen rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other illnesses, especially among children. Unfortunately corporate food companies have pushed back against the efforts to increase regulation of UPFs despite their associations to numerous health harms. What’s more is that these products continue to be sold without the requirement of disclosing these health concerns to consumers. God bless America.
Specifics of A.B. 1264:
If A.B. 1264 (the name of the bill), were signed into law it would set a definition of ultra-processed foods to better define them. California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment would also identify a subcategory of “particularly harmful” UPFs that should be phased out of school meals by 2032.
In general, children are currently eating too many ultra-processed foods, with harmful health consequences that follow. The goal of this bill is to decrease the amount of UPFs children eat and hopefully in turn enhance their health and wellbeing. With California schools serving close to a billion meals in a school year, phasing out UPFs would majorly increase the number of children, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who can access healthy and nutritious foods. The health of children should be a top priority in this country and it’s great to see California taking steps to improve health outcomes for students.
What qualifies as an “ultra-processed food”?
Scientists would be responsible for determining what foods qualify as a particularly harmful UPF based on the following criteria:
- The presence of additives that have been banned, restricted, or subject to warning
- Scientific research linking the food or ingredients in the food to cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity, or any developmental or reproductive health conditions
- The food or the ingredients contribute to food addiction
- The product is high in fat, sugar, or salt
California: Legislative Role Model for Public Health
California continues to push for change regarding school safety and nutrition. In recent years, California has passed two landmark food laws with the help of bipartisan support. For example, in 2024 the California School Food Safety Act was passed, banning six different harmful food dyes from being served in public schools. In 2023, a law was passed that banned the manufacture, distribution, and sale of food containing Red Dye No. 3, potassium bromate, propyl paraben, and brominated vegetable oil.
California has set a good example with this legislation, leading to similar actions and regulations of food chemicals in other states such as Vermont, New York, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.
It seems as if public health issues and concerns are rather important to Governor Gavin Newsom—in January he issued an executive order directing health agencies in California to find new ways of decreasing the impacts of and reducing the purchase of ultra-processed foods.
Closing:
While some processed foods can be part of a healthy diet, poor nutrition in childhood is predominantly caused by the consumption of ultra-processed foods as the focal point of the diet. Poor nutrition is a risk factor for many diseases including cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, heart disease, and so much more. High consumption of UPFs can also affect a child’s learning and classroom performance. However, the good news is that the risk factors that lead to these chronic diseases, such as poor nutrition, are modifiable, and nutritional intervention can significantly lower your risk of developing these health conditions.
Fortunately, the state of California is working to continually propose laws to protect consumers, children, and other citizens from the harmful chemical additives that are so central to the American diet. We all deserve the best. We deserve high-quality foods that are nutritious, satisfying, and beneficial to us. Students and children especially should be getting the vitamins, minerals, and core nutrients they need to sustain their learning and their growth. Serving healthy school lunches is an efficient way to optimize students’ health, creating a healthier nation. And a healthier nation begins with public health, and that involves policy and legislative change. So I’m happy to see California is keeping the conversation going and proposing bills that can make a healthier nation a real possibility.
Anyway guys, thanks for reading. Check out more public health-related posts here!
See you next week.