A new legislative proposal in California is advancing the state’s initiative to curb ultra-processed foods by introducing a front-of-package seal. This seal would indicate that a product is not ultra-processed and would be applied by manufacturers on a voluntary basis.
Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, speaking during a press call on Wednesday, expressed that the seal is intended to guide consumers toward healthier options at the grocery store while encouraging manufacturers to reformulate their products to meet the necessary requirements.
“Parents shouldn’t need a Ph.D. in chemistry to understand what they’re feeding their kids,” stated Gabriel, who put forward bill AB 2224. The Democratic legislator is also behind previous significant California laws targeting food dyes and additives and last year’s legislation on ultra-processed foods in schools, which became law in the fall.
The definition of an ultra-processed food is contentious. This bill adheres to the definition used in last year’s school law in California: foods are classified as ultra-processed if they include specific additives such as emulsifiers, flavors, and preservatives, and are high in sugar, salt, and fat, or contain non-nutritive sweeteners.
According to Alyssa Moran, a nutrition policy researcher and epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvania, about one-third of packaged foods would not be considered ultra-processed under this criterion. She noted that the new certification would assist school food service providers in recognizing non-ultra-processed items.
“Ultra-processed foods clearly increase chronic disease risk, and while we debate about whether the science is good enough, ultra-processed foods are killing roughly 1,400 Americans each day,” Moran commented, highlighting the link to chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The Consumer Brands Association, the primary trade group for food manufacturers, did not immediately provide a comment.
Gabriel likened this initiative to the USDA’s certified organic label, pointing out that California’s early regulation of organic products set the stage for federal action. “We would love to see Washington follow our lead,” he remarked, adding, “But until then, there’s no reason companies couldn’t use the California seal in grocery stores outside of California.”
The bill mandates that large grocery store chains prominently display products with the California seal once a certain threshold of such products is met. Items like yogurt, bread, snacks, baby food, and cereals could qualify for these seals.
Gabriel aims to present the bill to Gov. Gavin Newsom by August or September.
In contrast, Texas passed a labeling law last year that required warning labels on foods containing any of 44 additives. A federal judge recently halted the enactment of this law, citing potential First Amendment violations. Meanwhile, countries like Mexico have implemented labels warning consumers about high calorie and sugar content. “We thought that maybe there would be a better way … by acknowledging folks who are doing the right thing, and who are creating products that are healthy,” said Gabriel.
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