California Governor Issues Executive Order to Crack Down on Ultra-Processed Foods, Further Investigate Food Dyes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Jan. 3 to continue investigating the adverse health effects of synthetic food dyes and increase access to affordable, healthy foods.

“Ultra-processed foods” are known to pose a health risk to individuals, and Newsom’s efforts are designed to support affordable, healthy living and reduce the growing impact of chronic illnesses on Californians.

“The food we eat shouldn’t make us sick with disease or lead to lifelong consequences,” he said. “California has been a leader for years in creating healthy and delicious school meals and removing harmful ingredients and chemicals from food. We’re going to work with the industry, consumers and experts to crack down on ultra-processed foods and create a healthier future for every Californian.”

The executive order orders specific state entities to:

• Provide recommendations to the Governor’s Office regarding potential action to limit the harms associated with “ultra-processed foods” and food ingredients that pose a health risk to individuals.
• Continue investigating the adverse health impacts of synthetic food dyes.
• Recommend actions to reduce the purchase of soda, candy, other ultra-processed foods and/or foods with synthetic food dye or other additives.
• Investigate the feasibility of requiring Medi-Cal Managed Care plans and California hospitals to use their Community Investment dollars and Community Benefit funds to enhance access to fresh, healthy foods, mitigate the impacts of “food deserts” and otherwise promote public health at the local level.
• Identify areas where California may adopt higher standards for healthy school meals than national standards.
• Explore developing new standards and partnerships to further protect and expand universal school food programs.

“Through today’s executive order, we’re making a decisive and transformative commitment to further California’s work to prioritize health and nutrition as fundamental building blocks for thriving communities,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “By connecting the dots between whole food, mental wellness and strong cognition, we are creating an environment where every child has the opportunity to realize their full potential. This is a powerful move towards health, equity and a California for ALL Kids.”

The new 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Advisory Report to the federal Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Agriculture found that 73% of U.S. adults 20 years and older are overweight or obese and 38% of children and youth between 12 and 19 years old are prediabetic. The National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has identified the link between healthy eating and lowering an individual’s risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other chronic health conditions.

Children eat the majority of their meals at school, and research shows that healthy school meals result in better attendance, higher academic achievement and improved health overall, including lowering the instance of chronic disease in the long term. California standards already exceed federal rules for food safety in schools, ensuring children are consuming fewer amounts of added sugars, sodium, and more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

California was the first state to implement a statewide Universal Meals Program for schoolchildren, providing all public TK-12 students access to two free meals per school day. In 2023, California also became the first state to codify President Biden’s new federal guidelines on school nutrition standards to reduce sugar and salt in school meals, and established a process for California to maintain those standards should a different federal Administration enact lower the standards.

Siebel Newsom also championed efforts to develop the innovative California Farm to School initiative. California Farm to School works in tandem with universal school meals to ensure California students have access to two free school meals that are locally sourced, delicious and nutritious. California also participates in the federal SUN Bucks food program which ensures that children in families with low incomes have adequate nutrition while school is out for the summer.