Plain English Breakdown
The exact criteria for what makes a product an ultraprocessed food or restricted school food will be determined by regulations adopted later.
Non-Ultraprocessed Certified Food Standard
This law creates a certification system for foods that are not ultraprocessed and requires large grocery stores to clearly identify at least three certified items if they sell more than 25 such products.
What This Bill Does
- Requires the State Department of Public Health to accredit agents who can certify food as Non-Ultraprocessed Certified by June 1, 2028.
- Creates a standardized seal that only accredited agents may use on certified products.
- Prohibits certifying any product classified as an ultraprocessed food, ultraprocessed food of concern, or restricted school food.
- Requires the department to publish a public list of all certified products online.
- Mandates grocery stores with over $10 million in annual sales to clearly identify at least three certified items if they sell more than 25 total.
Who It Names or Affects
- The State Department of Public Health
- Accredited certification agents and food manufacturers seeking the seal
- Grocery stores with gross annual sales exceeding $10,000,000
Terms To Know
- Ultraprocessed food
- Food or drink containing a specified substance and high amounts of saturated fat, sodium, added sugar, or nonnutritive sweeteners.
- Non-Ultraprocessed Certified seal
- A standardized mark created by the department that shows a product has been certified as not ultraprocessed.
- Accredited certification agent
- An organization approved by the state to review and certify food products for this program.
Limits and Unknowns
- The specific rules defining which foods are ultraprocessed will not be finalized until regulations are adopted by June 1, 2028.
- Violations of the certification seal rules cannot result in criminal charges under existing food safety laws.