Today, California made history. Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1264, one of the most bipartisan bills on record in the name of children’s health.
AB 1264 is the first of its kind in the nation. First, it establishes a clear definition of ultra-processed foods, and second, it mandates the removal of the most harmful of these foods from California schools, providing an opportunity for schools to better serve children’s long-term health.
The stakes could not be higher. Nearly 50% of U.S. kids now have at least one chronic disease, a rate that is far worse than in prior generations and in comparison to other developed nations. The overwhelming agreement on the importance of the bill — it passed both the Senate and Assembly with only a single “no” vote and was championed by a diverse coalition of outside organizations, from End Chronic Disease and Eat Real to the Environmental Working Group – marks a historic point of unity for Americans. If we don’t protect our children by putting nutritious foods on their plates, we won’t survive as a nation.
Passing this bill was no small feat. While promoting healthy school lunches may seem like a no-brainer, this concept has struggled to cross the finish line for years. First Lady Michelle Obama’s platform elevated the conversation and made some progress, but attempts to improve school lunches from the federal level, for example, led to a massive backlash over fears of government overreach and limits on free choice. Meanwhile, industry and farmers who have invested years and countless resources to match their production to meet current demands are naturally skeptical of changes that upend the status quo.
Yet, in an incredible turn of events, stakeholders from teachers’ unions to farmers and legislators hailing from Fresno to Los Angeles—and everywhere in between and beyond—did the hard work of crafting a substantive policy that all sides could support.
Instead of instituting sweeping mandates that would upend farmers and industry, this legislation focuses on addressing the most harmful ultra-processed foods laden with additives and chemicals that are proven by science to cause disease and other adverse outcomes, particularly for children. It doesn’t demonize every packaged food, nor does it try to restrict freedom by dictating a perfect diet. Instead, it eliminates the most egregious offenders from the trays served to our kids. It also incorporates a generous timeline to implementation, allowing stakeholder groups ample time to prepare and adjust accordingly.
In the end, the lawmakers who approved this bill—and the governor who signed it—recognized that we have a collective responsibility to ensure that our kids are receiving daily nourishment that fuels body, mind, and health, and that California is uniquely positioned to lead the way. With 1 in 5 Californians facing food insecurity, many students here rely on school meals for a majority of their daily calories. What place could be better to ensure these meals are nutritious than in the state that produces nearly 70% of the nation’s fruits and vegetables?
As a co-founder of Sweetgreen and as a father raising my children here in Los Angeles, this bill feels personal. When we started our company, few believed there was a market for a healthy alternative, much less that it was possible to develop a network of organic, local and sustainable producers to grow our business model. But Sweetgreen’s success proved that people want clean food—and that it’s possible to create a market ecosystem that benefits growers, businesses, and customers alike.
There is no reason why school lunches can’t follow that same model. California’s agricultural sector is second to none, and when the state sets clear standards, it allows local farmers to supply healthier foods. Instead of cafeterias filled with packaged products, this legislation will help create a world where the tomatoes, carrots, and greens grown right here in California end up in classrooms down the road, shaping the diets — and futures — of our kids.
Studies show that diet-related illnesses like diabetes and heart disease begin with patterns established in youth, including the delicate but powerful process of palate development. Teaching kids to enjoy fresh, healthy food isn’t just about the lunch line next week — it’s about preventing chronic disease decades from now. Removing the most dangerous ultra-processed foods from our schools and replacing them with healthy alternatives will have a profound impact.
Healthy food, especially for children, is among the most uniting issues of our time. Parents everywhere want their kids to grow up strong, alert in class, and free from preventable diseases. Farmers want fair, sustainable markets for their crops. Businesses want to serve demand and succeed. There’s no red or blue, left or right in that equation — only common ground. It truly is a win-win-win.
California has often been a place where bold policies set the tone for the rest of the nation. By uniting on this issue, our state has shown that when we focus on what matters most — the health of the next generation — we can lay a fertile path for the nation, sowing the seeds for a sweet and sustaining harvest of good health for generations to come. Well done, California.
Nicolas Jammet is a Co-Founder and Chief Concept Officer of Sweetgreen, and a founding board member of End Chronic Disease.
