California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Tuesday allowing food companies to label their products as non-ultra-processed foods (UPF). This initiative establishes the first seal of its kind in the United States, provided the products meet specific non-ultra-processed standards, according to Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, who sponsored the legislation.
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The law resembles the USDA Organic label, overseen by the California Department of Public Health. Food manufacturers will need to apply to accredited certification agents to use the "California Certified" seal on their packaging. Recertification will be required every three years.
Additionally, grocery stores in California with gross sales exceeding $10 million must display these products prominently in designated high-traffic areas. The state's definition of UPFs encompasses food and beverages containing certain substances like colors or stabilizers, and high levels of saturated fat, sodium, added sugars, or nonnutritive sweeteners.
In a statement, Newsom emphasized the importance of preventative healthcare, stating, "We should be about healthcare, not sick-care, recognizing that preventing illnesses is far preferable to finding -- and affording -- treatments." He highlighted California's commitment to making whole, healthy foods more accessible.
Consumer groups, such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG), praised the new law. Bernadette Del Chiaro, EWG senior vice president for California, stated, "Today California raised the bar for what we consider healthy food... families now have a simple way to tell which foods are closer to what comes from a kitchen rather than a factory."
The law aligns with policies endorsed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long critiqued the U.S. food industry for its use of ultra-processed foods, linking them to rising chronic disease rates. Kennedy noted, "Hundreds of these chemicals are now banned in Europe, but they're ubiquitous in American processed foods."
Research has indicated potential health risks associated with highly processed foods. A 2022 study by the CDC and the University of São Paulo revealed that diets high in ultra-processed foods might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Earlier this year, Kennedy announced new dietary guidelines advising Americans to limit highly processed foods and reduce refined carbohydrates. These guidelines explicitly cautioned against packaged foods that are salty or sweet and sugar-sweetened beverages.