9/28/2026
California must pull ultra-processed food from school meals and the people running cafeterias say it won't be easy
California's Real Food, Healthy Kids Act requires schools to start phasing out ultra-processed foods by July 2029. A Stanford Medicine study of 20 San Joaquin Valley districts found food service directors expect tight budgets, thin staffing, supply problems, and kitchens that can't handle scratch cooking.
Mary Johnson