Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday issued an executive order seeking to limit access to ultra-processed foods, calling it a continuation of California’s “nation-leading” nutrition and health standards.
“The food we eat should not make us sick or have lifelong consequences,” Newsom said in a statement. “California has long served as a leader in creating healthy and delicious school lunches and removing harmful ingredients and chemicals from food. We work with industry, consumers and experts to We will crack down on ultra-processed foods and build a healthier future for all Californians.”
The order directs state officials to develop recommendations to limit health hazards from ultra-processed foods and warns recipients of federal food benefits about candy, soda made with artificial colors and additives. , is asking for suggestions to reduce the purchase of other unhealthy foods.
The move comes weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office for a second term, naming iconoclastic former environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. . President Kennedy still needs Senate confirmation, but he has been a vocal critic of ultra-processed foods and has promised to overhaul the nation’s food system. Food dyes, pasteurized milk, and seed oils are common items he has criticized, sometimes making health claims that are not supported by science.
Although Mr. Newsom did not mention Mr. Kennedy, the Democratic governor of California is planting a preemptive flag on the issue, signaling his refusal to concede ground to the incoming Trump administration. His executive order included a long list of steps the state has taken to improve nutrition.
Processed foods are foods that have been modified from their natural state, such as frozen vegetables, whereas ultra-processed or highly processed foods are foods that have been significantly modified from their natural state, such as packaged potato chips or soft drinks. It is a modified food. Research shows that ultra-processed foods make up a large portion of the U.S. food supply.
The Golden State is certainly a national leader in banning food additives, with Newsom signing the 2023 bill, making California the first state in the nation to ban four additives found in popular cereals, sodas, candy and beverages. banned things.
Before it was passed, the California Food Safety Act was colloquially referred to as the “Anti-Skittles Act.” That’s because an earlier version of the bill also covered titanium dioxide, which is used to color Skittles and some other popular candies. However, the final law was amended to remove references to this substance and ban only brominated vegetable oils, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3.
Last year, Newsom signed another bill banning snack foods containing numerous synthetic food dyes from California public schools. The law, which goes into effect on December 31, 2027, will prevent popular snack foods like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos from being placed in school vending machines and cafeterias.
Laws protecting students from sugary drinks go back decades, with California banning the serving of soda in all K-12 schools in 2009.
The governor’s order cites the link between “ultra-processed foods” and cancer, obesity, diabetes and other health problems. The order says more than 10,000 chemicals are allowed in food, color additives and ingredients in the United States, compared to 300 allowed in the European Union.
Newsom is asking the California Department of Public Health to submit recommendations by April 1 to limit the hazards associated with ultra-processed foods and food ingredients that pose health risks, including warning labels. may be included. He also directed the California Department of Human Services to issue recommendations on the same schedule to reduce purchases by California food stamp users of soda, candy, other ultra-processed foods, and foods made with synthetic food colors and additives. commanded.
Among several health directives, his order also requires state agencies to identify areas to raise standards for healthy school meals and to investigate the negative health effects of food coloring. are.
Ultra-processed foods are likely to be at the forefront of the national debate in the coming weeks as President Kennedy prepares for his Senate confirmation hearing.
Kennedy, a prominent anti-vaccine activist, has promoted numerous false health claims and fringe conspiracy theories. But his stance on food additives also brought support from unlikely allies who criticized other parts of his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
“Certainly there are some points that he supports and we can agree on, but they’re more like a stopped clock that gets accurate twice a day,” says the Center for Science in the Public Interest. said Dr. Peter Lurie, President and Executive Director. In an earlier interview with the Times, he cited food additives as an example.
Lurie characterized Kennedy’s possible appointment more broadly as a dangerous choice because Kennedy “can’t tell the difference between good science and bad science.”
The Food and Drug Administration, perhaps the most public agency in President Kennedy’s crosshairs, could be significantly impacted by his leadership if confirmed by the Senate.
The agency, which falls under the Department of Health and Human Services, regulates about 77% of the U.S. food supply and oversees the safety of about $4 trillion worth of food, tobacco and medical products, according to federal data. It has wide-ranging powers. .
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