{"id":480015,"date":"2026-09-30T02:42:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T02:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/480015\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T02:42:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T02:42:10","slug":"gavin-newsom-signs-laws-adding-labels-to-processed-sugary-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/480015\/","title":{"rendered":"Gavin Newsom signs laws adding labels to processed, sugary foods"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dining out in California<\/a> will forever come with an asterisk.<\/p>\n

Under a new law signed Monday, restaurant chains will have to slap a warning \u2013 a sugar cube inside a black triangle \u2013 on menus next to drinks packing an entire day\u2019s recommended amount of added sugar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The requirement applies to chain restaurants<\/a> with 20 or more locations and must be in place by Jan. 1, 2029.<\/p>\n

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Seri, buying drinks in Costco, Los Angeles, on Tuesday supports new sugar warning labels for California. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post<\/p>\n

And at the other end of the food pyramid, California has also signed off on the nation\u2019s first \u201cNon-Ultraprocessed Certified\u201d seal, allowing food manufacturers to tout their clean and natural bona fides.<\/p>\n

California defines ultra-processed foods as products containing certain additives, including flavors, colors, sweeteners and emulsifiers, or that are high in saturated fat, sodium or added sugar.<\/p>\n

The definition was established under a law signed off in 2025 targeting ultra-processed foods served in California\u2019s public schools.<\/p>\n

Under the new certification program, manufacturers will be able to apply through accredited certification agents to use the new \u201cNon-Ultraprocessed Certified\u201d seal on their products if they meet California\u2019s standards.<\/p>\n

The program will be overseen by the California Department of Public Health, although manufacturers will not be required to seek certification.<\/p>\n

Carter Sakamoto thinks sugar warning labels on sodas are a \u201djoke\u201d Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post<\/p>\n

The seal is modeled on the USDA Organic label<\/a>, which allows shoppers to identify products that meet federal organic standards without having to check lengthy ingredient lists.<\/p>\n

Critics have argued the national label doesn\u2019t go far enough, as it largely governs how agricultural products are produced and handled rather than guaranteeing that the finished product is healthy or minimally processed.<\/p>\n

The federal organic standards include restrictions on pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms and other production practices, but do not guarantee that a finished product is low in sugar, sodium or saturated fat.<\/p>\n

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That means processed products such as cookies, chips and sugary foods can still carry the USDA Organic seal if their ingredients and production methods satisfy federal organic standards.<\/p>\n

California\u2019s new label instead focuses specifically on whether a finished food meets the state\u2019s standards for avoiding ultra-processing.<\/p>\n

Health experts praised California\u2019s new law, noting concerns over the health effects of diets high in ultra-processed foods.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltra processed foods are fueling a surge in chronic conditions among children, obesity, type two diabetes, and even mental health challenges like anxiety and depression,\u201d said pediatrician Ravinder Khaira, speaking on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics.<\/p>\n

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces his signature on legislation advancing California\u2019s holistic healthcare strategy to address ultra-processed foods, high-sugar content, and tobacco. Governor Gavin Newsom<\/p>\n

\u201cThese aren\u2019t distant threats. They\u2019re showing up in our exam rooms every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, some critics have questioned whether the label could confuse consumers if other states adopt their own definitions and standards for ultra-processed foods.<\/p>\n

While the new California label is not mandatory, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who authored the law, said it will empower consumers looking for healthier options.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile Washington D.C. is paralyzed by inaction, Republicans and Democrats in California are joining forces to empower consumers to avoid harmful ultra-processed foods,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

A woman shops for drinks and snacks in a small convenience store in Los Angeles, California, Friday, March 31, 2023. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cParents shouldn\u2019t need a Ph.D. in chemistry to understand what they\u2019re feeding their kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, reaction to the new mandatory sugar warning law was more divided, with restaurants hitting out at yet another burden for an industry that\u2019s seen mass job losses and store closures since the introduction of California\u2019s $20 per hour minimum wage for fast food workers.<\/p>\n

The California Restaurant Association said the sugar law was just another burden on an industry struggling in a regulation-heavy state.<\/p>\n

Large restaurant chains are already required under law to provide calorie information on both food and drinks, the association said.<\/p>\n

A Jack in the Box fast food restaurant outdoor drive-thru menu is pictured on Monday, May 25, 2026, in Davis, California. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cSB 869 is another example of California making small business owners comply with yet another law that is duplicative,\u201d the California Restaurant Association said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Carter Sakamoto, who was buying a soda at Costco on Tuesday, agreed with the restaurant industry and described the new sugar warning labels as \u201cstupid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that as Californians, we have a lot of bigger problems than sugary sodas. It\u2019s a waste of taxpayers\u2019 time.\u201d<\/p>\n

But health advocates praised the law as a needed transparency measure that will allow consumers to know what they\u2019re actually drinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cA single beverage may not seem like much, but over time, it can significantly impact someone\u2019s health trajectory,\u201d Christine Harabedian, a lobbyist for the American Diabetes Association, said.<\/p>\n

\u201cStudies show that adding just one 12-ounce sugary drink daily increases the risk of developing type two diabetes by 26%.\u201d<\/p>\n

Supporters have pointed to research by the University of California, Davis showing that warning labels on restaurant menus steer diners away from sugary drinks.<\/p>\n

A customer fills a Coca-Cola cup with Coke at a soda fountain at a food court outside a Costco Wholesale warehouse store in Hawthorne, California, Wednesday, August 27, 2025. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Another shopper, Seri, said the sugar warning law had been \u201ca long time coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs humans, we should know what we\u2019re putting into our bodies, especially foods with high sugar, like soda, that we consume every day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether you choose to ignore the sign is up to you, but I fully support knowing how much sugar I\u2019m consuming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Example sugar warning labels used by UC Davis in its reasearch. UC Davis<\/p>\n

Example sugar warning labels used by UC Davis in its reasearch.<\/p>\n

Gov. Gavin Newsom framed the two laws as a health care solution.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should be about healthcare, not sick-care, recognizing that preventing illnesses is far preferable to finding \u2014 and affording \u2014 treatments,\u201d Newsom said in a Monday statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia has never been afraid to challenge the status quo, and we\u2019ll keep innovating, trying new things, and clearing the way for the rest of the country to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

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