Related Stories
‘Bipartisan, common sense, science-based’: California leads the way in banning ultra-processed school meals
Key Excerpts from Article on Website of The Guardian (One of the UK's Leading Newspapers)
Posted: October 4th, 2025
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/15/californ...
California has long led the way on school meals. In 2022, it became the first state in the country to make school meals free for all students, regardless of income. Many districts have implemented farm-to-school programs to bring local foods into the cafeteria. And last year, months before the “Make America healthy again” movement would make its way to the White House, it became the first state in the nation to ban six synthetic food dyes from school meals. This week, it passed legislation that will put it in the lead on school meals in yet another way – banning ultra-processed foods. On Friday, California lawmakers passed a bill that will define, and then ban, ultra-processed foods from school meals. Ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, are industrially formulated products that are often high in fats, starches, sugars and additives, and make up 73% of the US food supply today. The text of California’s new law defines a UPF as any food or beverage that contains stabilizers, thickeners, propellants, colors, emulsifiers, flavoring agents, flavor enhancers, nonnutritive sweeteners or surface-active agents – and has high amounts of saturated fat, sodium or added sugar, or nonnutritive sweeteners. “We actually had food service directors come in and testify,” [state assembly member Jesse Gabriel] said. “Not only had it not cost them more, but in many districts they had actually saved money by switching to healthier alternatives.”
Note: Explore more positive stories like this on healing our bodies and reimagining the economy.
Related Stories
Top Inspiring News Articles
Top Inspiring News Articles from Years Past
