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Senate approves proposal to phase out some ultra‑processed foods in school meals after extended debate
Summary
The Senate approved AB 12 64 (Real Food Healthy Kids Act), a bill directing the state to identify and phase out the most harmful “ultra‑processed” foods from school meals, after more than an hour of floor debate and multiple amendments aimed at protecting California agricultural products and smoothing implementation.
The Senate passed AB 12 64, titled the Real Food Healthy Kids Act, after extended floor debate and multiple amendments. The bill — presented in the Senate by Senator Ben Weber Pearson on behalf of Assemblymember Gabriel — would define “ultra‑processed foods” in statute and direct state scientific review to identify specific products of greatest concern to be phased out of school meal programs over an implementation timeline.
Senator Ben Weber Pearson, presenting the bill on the Senate floor, called AB 12 64 a “first in the nation” measure to reduce exposure of students to foods the bill says are linked in peer‑reviewed studies to higher risks for obesity, diabetes, certain cancers and behavioral harms. “This bill would establish a statutory definition of ultra‑processed foods and direct state scientists to identify the most concerning ultra‑processed…
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