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.

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    The question remains: what counts as “ultra-processed”? America is a country where ketchup counts as vegetable for school meals. Can you imagine them serving normal, freshly cooked and healthy food instead?

    • NateNate60@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Ketchup is not considered a vegetable in America. That is a myth. Some random school official essentially made the equivalent of a shit post (said something stupid in a meeting with no serious intent) and local papers ran with it.

      • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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        12 hours ago

        If it really is a myth, it is so fitting for the US that no one i know has ever questioned it.

      • raoulraoul@lemmy.world
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        13 hours ago

        Myth? No serious intent?

        Reporting on the proposed directive, Newsweek magazine illustrated its story with a bottle of ketchup captioned “now a vegetable.” The proposal was criticized by nutritionists and Democratic politicians who staged photo ops where they dined on nutrition-poor meals that conformed to the new lax standards. Compounding this outrage, the same day that the USDA announced the cost-cutting proposal for school lunches, the White House purchased $209,508 worth of new china and place settings embossed in gold with the presidential seal.

        • NateNate60@lemmy.world
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          11 hours ago

          Um… yes??

          Did you read the linked article? The regulation doesn’t define ketchup as a vegetable. It explains how that was a thing people concocted to attack the proposed nutritional standards as being too lax.