California bill advances groundbreaking non-ultra-processed food labels

SACRAMENTO – In a major public health victory, california state legislature today voted to advance pioneering legislation that would give shoppers an easy way to identify less harmful processed foods.

Assembly Bill 2244was introduced on March 24th. Rep. Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino)aims to create a first-of-its-kind national certification program for products that are not ultra-processed foods (UPFs). If enacted, it would establish a new government-sponsored seal for non-UPF foods.

“You don’t need a PhD in chemistry to understand what parents are feeding their children,” Gabriel says.

“AB 2244 will provide consumers with clear, reliable information and make it easier to find healthier foods without harmful additives. This new seal will not restrict consumer choice, it will only enable them to make informed choices,” he added.

UPF is an industrially manufactured and chemically modified product. They are often made with potentially harmful additives to improve taste, texture, appearance, and durability.

The Environmental Working Group is co-sponsoring this bill. It now goes to the Senate.

A new standard for healthier food

Under AB 2244, states will create standardized labels that include the phrase “Non-Ultraprocessed Certified.” Products classified as UPF under state law will not be allowed new labels.

Only products that meet these requirements can display the seal.

California last September Enacted AB 1264Gabriel’s landmark legislation that established the first U.S. legal definition of UPF.

According to this law, a food is considered UPF if it is high in saturated fat, sugar, sodium, and contains food additives such as flavorings, colorants, emulsifiers, and thickeners.

of California Department of Public Health It would oversee independent certification by an approved agency of products that meet the state’s non-UPF standards and are eligible to use the label. Certified products must be recertified at least every three years.

AB 2244 directs the Department to certify these third-party authentication agents no later than June 1, 2028.

“This is about setting a higher standard for what we consider healthy food,” he said. bernadette del chiaroEWG Senior Vice President for California.

“Consumers need labels they can trust, and families need an easy way to tell which foods are more likely to have come from a kitchen than a factory.

“If passed, this bill would establish a national seal of certification for food products that are free of hazardous substances. additives,emulsifier, food coloring and flavor It defines the modern American diet,” she added.

Bringing transparency and accountability to the food system

The bill includes strong oversight and transparency measures, including:

• Certification agencies must register with the state and disclose all certified products
• States can audit certification records at any time.
• The state plans to maintain a public online list of certified products
• Misuse of labels is illegal and subject to enforcement.

These regulations are designed to ensure label authenticity.

Making it easier to make healthier choices in-store

In addition to creating labels, the bill would require large food retailers to display certified products labeled in ways that are easy for consumers to identify, such as special signage or physical separation in the store.

This requirement applies to grocery stores that sell 25 or more individual products that are not UPF certified and have annual sales of more than $10 million.

Responding to increase in UPF

UPF is an industrially manufactured, chemically modified product made with harmful additives to improve taste, texture, appearance, and shelf life.

In the United States, these foods make up more than two-thirds of children’s diets. More than half of the typical adult diet.

Experts say ultra-processed foods and drinks are designed to: trick people into spending more more than they want, especially soda.

Scientific studies have linked high UPF diets to serious health effects, including: cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetesmetabolic disorders (etc.) crohn’s disease and fatty liver disease) and mental health issues.

Obesity is the biggest health problem associated with UPF. Fee obesity It is rapidly increasing not only in the United States but also worldwide. tandem Increased UPF consumption.

Consumer help

Despite these concerns, consumers do not have a clear standard label system for identifying UPF.

As federal regulators are slow to update oversight of food additives and processing, states are increasingly taking steps to protect public health.

AB 2244 builds on California’s leadership in addressing harmful food chemicals and increasing transparency for consumers.

“Companies are not required to disclose the use of ingredients, so looking at a food package and determining whether it is ultra-processed can be very difficult, even for an expert or someone like me with a PhD in nutrition,” he said. Alyssa MoranScD, MPH. Moran is associate director of the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy at the University of Pennsylvania.

“From a behavioral science perspective, we also know that people rarely use the information on the back of food packages to make food decisions, which is why clear, science-backed labels on the front of food packages can have a huge impact on helping people make better choices,” Moran said.

“If we want to meaningfully control the disease, we need a complementary set of policies that limit the availability of ultra-processed foods while promoting non-ultra-processed food alternatives. I strongly believe this is the only way we can make progress,” she added.

Consumers can consult EWG meal score Use the database to find less processed products. Food Score also flags unhealthy ultra-processed foods and drinks and helps identify alternatives.

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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps people live healthier lives in healthier environments. EWG advances consumer choice and civic engagement through research, advocacy, and unique educational tools.