SACRAMENTO – Following the passage of Assembly Bill 1264, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) and Assemblyman Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) are calling on Governor Newsom to sign the bipartisan Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) legislation into law to protect children’s health by phasing out the unhealthiest ultra-processed foods (UPFs) from school meals. Gallagher and Patterson co-authored the bill, which directs the Department of Public Health to identify and phase out of school meals specific “UPFs of concern” that are linked to adverse health consequences.
“The health of our kids should always come first, and AB 1264 is a commonsense, workable step to reduce their exposure to ultra-processed foods linked to serious health risks,” said Gallagher. “As co-authors, we collaborated across the aisle to help shape this bill by engaging with stakeholders to preserve student access to healthy, California-grown food that meet the highest standards for quality, safety, and sustainability,” added Patterson.
AB 1264 defines a UPF as a product high in saturated fat, added sugar, sodium, or containing non-sugar sweeteners, combined with industrial additives like colors, flavors, or emulsifiers. The bill exempts raw agricultural commodities, minimally processed foods, locally produced unprocessed items, and pasteurized milk—ensuring California’s fresh produce, dairy, and other sustainable ag products remain staples in school cafeterias.
“Following the leadership of the Trump Administration and Secretary Kennedy’s MAHA strategy, California is taking bold action to address the country’s childhood chronic disease epidemic. I’m proud to be part of the state’s leadership on this issue. It’s time to prioritize real nutrition over junk food,” said Gallagher.
According to health experts, UPFs now make up more than two-thirds of calories consumed by U.S. children, which significantly increases health risks. AB 1264 does not ban all processed or ultra-processed foods, nor does it affect grocery stores, restaurants, or require labeling. Instead, the bill focuses on building health habits when it is most critical, in childhood, by focusing solely on school meals. The bill has garnered support from numerous medical, consumer, agricultural, and public health organizations, including the American Diabetes Association and the California Medical Association.
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