The law, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed on Wednesday, sets a 10-year deadline for the change to take place.
A new law will make California the first state to phase some ultraprocessed food out of school meals.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Wednesday that prohibits public schools from serving children what it describes as “ultraprocessed foods of concern” in breakfasts or lunches. The policy sets a 10-year deadline for the change to take place.
It defines such foods as those that pose the greatest risks to consumers based on scientific evidence of adverse health outcomes, and it directs the state Public Health Department to determine which particular products meet the definition by June 2028.
I worked for a catering company that was looking into making a bid on a contract at a for profit prison company in California. The bosses had the chef put together a 7 day sample menu. He shows it to me and asks for feedback. This guy put stuff like quinoa and salmon on there. I just started laughing. I couldn’t help it. He askes what was funny and I asked him what the food cost was. Apparently no one thought to ask or had a clue what a typical prison meal consisted of. He just sort of assumed it would be around 6-7 dollars per meal. The contract was for 87 cents per meal. That’s right. The prison wanted 3 meals per person per day for $2.61. To be fair, there was also a flat fee but it would barely cover the cost of delivering the meals and the additional staff required to produce them. For it to be worth it to the owners, we would have had to produce those meals for about $1.50 per person per day. You don’t get to serve roasted salmon with quinoa salad at that price point.
The State will spend hundreds of dollars a day to keep someone locked up but don’t worry because they will make it back by skimping on five dollars worth of food and serving people mystery product #4291 instead.
And only pay them pennies for an hour of forced work.