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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a California law creating a “non-ultra-processed certified” seal for foods that meet the state’s standard. The state health department will oversee third-party certification, and certain large grocery stores will have to make qualifying products easier to identify.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law creating a “non-ultra-processed certified” food seal, giving qualifying products a new label and requiring some large grocery stores to make them easier to find. The California Department of Public Health will oversee the program, with third-party certifiers assessing products under the state’s standard.
The law was introduced by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat from Encino, and received bipartisan support in the state Assembly and Senate, according to Food Safety News. Products may display the seal only if they meet the state’s non-ultra-processed food requirements. The law bars certification for food containing certain substances or additives—including dyes, flavor enhancers, non-sugar sweeteners or processing aids—when they are used to manipulate a food’s taste or quality.
The California Department of Public Health is responsible for approving and accrediting third-party certification agents. Those agents must register with the state, and the department must accredit them by June 1, 2029. Certified products must be recertified at least once every three years. The state may audit certification records at any time and must maintain a public online list of certified products. Misuse of the seal will be illegal and subject to enforcement.
The law also sets a retail display requirement. It applies to grocery stores with more than 25 individually certified non-UPF products and annual sales above $10 million. Those stores must make certified products easy to identify, such as by using special signs or physically separating them from other products. The law creates a way to identify foods meeting the state standard; it does not, by itself, certify every product that might be described as minimally processed.
A New Signal on Grocery Shelves
The seal could give shoppers a standardized way to identify qualifying foods without having to assess every ingredient individually. That matters because the law couples certification with a requirement for some large retailers to make eligible products easier to spot. Its practical reach will depend on which products qualify, how many companies seek certification and how stores implement the display rules.
The source report cites research indicating that ultra-processed foods account for more than two-thirds of children’s diets and more than half of adults’ diets. It also says scientific research has linked diets high in these foods to serious health harms, including cancer, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic disorders and mental health issues. Those are population-level findings cited as context; the seal does not establish that a particular product prevents disease or that every food without the seal causes harm.
For food companies, the law introduces a certification process and potential consequences for using the mark improperly. For retailers that meet the sales and product thresholds, it adds a store-level obligation. The state’s standard and oversight system will shape how useful the mark is to consumers and how consistently it is applied.
California’s Earlier UPF Rules
The seal builds on a 2025 California law, also authored by Gabriel, which established what the source describes as the first U.S. legal definition of ultra-processed food and banned such food from public schools. The new law extends the state’s approach from defining and restricting the category in schools to creating a certification option for products sold to consumers.
Gabriel also cited an earlier state effort on food additives, saying California had begun the movement three years earlier by banning what he called the most dangerous additives. His statement presents the seal as another step in that effort. The new certification law’s product test, however, is tied to the requirements set out in the law and the state’s non-UPF standard.
Several consumer groups welcomed the measure, including the Environmental Working Group. The law assigns the Department of Public Health a central role: it must accredit certifiers, maintain the public product list and retain authority to review certification records. The statutory deadline for accrediting those agents—June 1, 2029—means the program’s full certification infrastructure is still to come.
““Like the USDA Organic label, this new seal will provide consumers with clear, trustworthy information and make it easier for them to locate healthier foods that are free from harmful additives.””
— Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, the bill’s author
Certification Details Still Pending
The law sets responsibilities and deadlines, but the supplied report does not specify which products will qualify in practice, how many certifiers will be approved or how quickly companies will apply. It also does not describe the detailed procedures certifiers will use to assess products beyond the law’s stated restrictions and the state standard.
The state’s accreditation deadline is June 1, 2029, but the report does not state when the first certifications or store displays are expected. The schedule for public guidance, certification applications and enforcement has not been provided. The exact number of stores that will meet both retail thresholds is also unclear.
The seal will indicate that a product meets the state’s criteria; the source does not say that it is a health rating or a guarantee of a product’s nutritional value. The cited research links diets high in ultra-processed foods with health harms, but the report does not establish the health effect of any one certified product.
State Accreditation Before 2029
The next stated milestone is for the California Department of Public Health to accredit third-party certifiers by June 1, 2029. The department’s approval process will be necessary before the certification system can operate as described. Certifiers will also have to register with the state, and products that receive the seal will require recertification at least every three years.
As the program takes shape, the department’s public list of certified products and its accreditation decisions will show which foods qualify and which agents are authorized to assess them. Grocery stores covered by the law will then need to make qualifying products easy to identify through signage, store placement or another method that meets the requirement. The source report does not give a separate compliance date for retailers.
Consumers, companies and retailers will be able to judge the program’s reach as the state publishes its rules and the first product certifications appear. Until those steps occur, the law establishes the framework, while the number and range of foods carrying the seal remain unsettled.
Key Questions
What does the new California law create?
It creates a “non-ultra-processed certified” seal for food products that meet the state’s standard. Only products meeting the requirements may display it.
Who will certify products?
Third-party certifiers will assess products. The California Department of Public Health will approve and accredit those agents, who must register with the state.
When must certifiers be accredited?
The law directs the Department of Public Health to accredit third-party certifiers by June 1, 2029. The source report does not state when the first product certifications will be issued.
Which grocery stores must identify certified products?
The requirement applies to grocery stores with more than 25 individually certified non-UPF products and more than $10 million in annual sales. Covered stores must make those products easy to identify, for example with signs or physical separation.
Does the seal guarantee that a food is healthy?
The law’s seal indicates that a product meets the state’s non-UPF criteria. The source does not describe it as a guarantee of nutritional value or disease prevention.
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