Staff Reports
Governor Gavin Newsom just added another layer of government to the grocery aisle. In a single move, he signed a package of health laws that creates a state‑run “Non‑Ultraprocessed Certified” seal and forces big chains to mark certain high‑sugar drinks with a sugar‑cube icon on menus. Sounds helpful until you look at what it actually means for families and small businesses.
What the new labels actually do
One law, AB 2244, creates a voluntary “Non‑Ultraprocessed Certified” seal. The California Department of Public Health will accredit private certifiers, run the program and police misuse of the seal. Another law, SB 869, forces chain restaurants with 20 or more locations to place a sugar‑cube icon next to any drink that contains at least 100% of the FDA daily value for added sugar (that’s about 50 grams). There’s also SB 977, which pushes chains to offer at least one lower‑calorie kids’ meal. Supporters say this gives shoppers clear information. The state says it’s about prevention.
Why this won’t help poor families and will hurt restaurants
Here’s the plain truth: a sticker on a package doesn’t make groceries cheaper. Families on tight budgets need lower prices and more access to real food, not another government emblem telling them what to buy. For restaurants, the bills are new chores. Someone must count sugar, change digital menus and swap drive‑through boards. Franchises already juggle rent, wages and suppliers. Add compliance work and fees, and margins shrink. That’s not theory — restaurant groups warned about extra costs for menus and tech already.
Bad science, confusing labels, and nanny‑state overreach
“Ultra‑processed” is still debated in science circles. Which products count often depends on where you draw the line. A state deciding a one‑size‑fits‑all definition invites confusion and a patchwork of rules if other states copy it. And behavioral studies show some warnings backfire; people don’t like feeling pushed. Force a message too hard and you can get what researchers call a “boomerang” effect — the very opposite of what lawmakers want.
What Californians should demand instead
If the goal is healthier families, focus on what works: make healthy food more affordable, support nutrition education, and reduce red tape that raises costs. Let the market and clear, simple information compete — not a new government seal and menu policing that will mostly make life harder for businesses and ordinary shoppers. Governor Newsom can promise prevention all he likes. But handing bureaucrats the power to label dinner won’t cook it for you.
