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California Bill Would Label Non‑Ultraprocessed Foods and Put Them on Prime Store Shelves

The move extends California's school food limits into grocery aisles.

FILE - A customer looks at refrigerated items at a Grocery Outlet store in Pleasanton, Calif., Sept. 15, 2022. More U.S. adults are now feeling financially vulnerable amid high inflation. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research says that some 46% of people now call their personal financial situation poor. That figure has risen from 37% percent in March. (AP Photo/Terry Chea, File)
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A woman choosing canned dog or cat food at a pet store, reading the label. Customer compares wet dog or cat food in the aisle with various canned foods on the shelves. Concept of responsible pet owner

Overview

  • Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel proposed a first‑in‑the‑nation “California Certified” seal for foods defined as not ultraprocessed with mandatory prominent placement in grocery stores.
  • Manufacturers would apply through accredited third‑party certifiers starting in 2028 with renewals every three years.
  • Companies would pay certification costs while larger retailers would have to feature certified items at aisle ends, checkouts, or entrances once sales meet a set threshold.
  • California classifies “ultraprocessed” foods as those with certain additives such as artificial flavors, colors, emulsifiers, or stabilizers plus high added sugar, sodium, or saturated fat.
  • Supporters say the seal gives shoppers a clear cue and could spur recipe changes, while critics warn the term lacks a universal definition and the label could be mistaken for a broad health claim.