SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On Wednesday, California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) introduced legislation, A.B. 1264, to reduce the amount of harmful ultra-processed food, or UPF, served in schools.
The following is a statement from Scott Faber, the Environmental Working Group’s senior vice president for government affairs:
Processed food can be part of a healthy diet, but Americans, especially our kids, are eating too many ultra-processed foods, leading to higher rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. By identifying and phasing out the most harmful UPF from California’s school food, A.B. 1264 will send the right signal to the companies selling food to our schools.
EWG applauds Asm. Gabriel for once again making the health of California’s kids his top priority.
Gabriel last year introduced legislation to ban toxic food colors from school foods, and that law was enacted in September.
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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
