New California Rules Are Set to Change School Cafeteria Menus
School meal standards are shifting in several parts of the country as lawmakers take a closer look at ingredients, additives, and processed foods. In California, Assembly Bill 1264 would set new rules for what can be served in public school cafeterias. The proposal was set to be unveiled at a Wednesday news conference, with lawmakers framing it as the next step in the state’s school food safety effort.
California lawmakers introduced a phased school food plan
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel is introducing Assembly Bill 1264, a bipartisan measure that would phase out certain ultra-processed foods from California public school meals, according to statements released ahead of the bill’s Wednesday unveiling. The bill sets a gradual timeline, with a phaseout beginning in 2028 and full elimination by 2032. Republican Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher is a co-author of the measure, making it a cross-party proposal focused on school nutrition.
The bill does not list every food item that would be removed from cafeterias. Instead, it directs California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to create a statutory definition of ultra-processed foods and determine which products should be restricted in school meals. Lawmakers said the focus is on products with ingredients and additives they describe as particularly harmful to children’s health.
What the proposal would mean for California schools
For California families, the immediate change is that no cafeteria menu shifts have been confirmed yet. The bill would apply to public school meals statewide, but officials have not released a full list of affected foods, brands, or school districts. That means schools from San Diego to Sacramento do not yet know exactly which lunch staples might need to be replaced if the measure becomes law.
What is confirmed is the timeline laid out in the proposal. Schools would not begin the phaseout until 2028, and full removal would not be required until 2032. Supporters said districts may need to switch to different brands, while some manufacturers could choose to reformulate products so they still qualify for school meal programs under the new standards.
The push comes after earlier California food safety laws
Supporters of AB 1264 said the bill is tied to growing research on health risks linked to ultra-processed foods. Lawmakers pointed to studies connecting high consumption of these products to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and cognitive decline. Ashley Gearhardt, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, said foods high in both carbohydrates and fats can amplify the brain’s reward system, which is one reason they are drawing more scrutiny.
The proposal also builds on earlier California legislation. In 2023, Gabriel led the California Food Safety Act, which banned four food additives statewide. In 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the California School Food Safety Act, which removed six artificial dyes from public school meals. For students and parents, the practical takeaway is that cafeteria menus are not changing today, but California is continuing to tighten school food rules through a longer regulatory process.
