This article is part of a partnership between The Mendocino Voice and nonprofit newsroom EdSource to bring relevant education-related news to Mendocino County readers. Learn more about EdSource here.
SACRAMENTO, CA., 3/20/25 – California school lunches could get healthier, if a newly introduced bill passes.
The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), would phase out some “ultra-processed” foods from meals served at public schools in the state, according to NBC News.
The bill directs scientists to identify products that are considered “particularly harmful” and then proposes to remove those ingredients from school meals, beginning in 2028 and eliminating them completely by 2032.
Ultra-processed foods include packaged chips, candies, instant noodles and soft drinks.
Studies have linked them to many negative health outcomes, including an increased risk of diabetes, cognitive decline, heart disease and cancer.
This article first appeared at EdSource here.