Children across Minnesota are being served school lunches packed with ultraprocessed foods — items filled with artificial dyes, stabilizers, added sugars, and chemicals you can’t pronounce. It’s time for that to change.

In October 2025, California became the first state to begin phasing ultraprocessed foods out of school meals, with full implementation by 2035. Their law targets foods with the greatest health risks — including those linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even anxiety and depression.

Minnesota should be next.

We’re calling on Governor Tim Walz, the Minnesota Department of Education, and state legislators to introduce and pass a law that:

• Creates a clear, science-based definition of “ultraprocessed foods of concern”
• Begins a 10-year phase-out of those foods from Minnesota public school meals
• Promotes fresh, whole ingredients and meals free of harmful additives
• Ensures all students — especially those on free or reduced lunch — still get full, nutritious meals.

Across the U.S., kids now get more than 60% of their calories from ultraprocessed foods. These products are often cheaper, but they come at a serious long-term cost to our kids’ health. In Minnesota, where we pride ourselves on health, education, and equity, we can’t ignore this any longer.

This isn’t a fringe idea. West Virginia, Texas, and California have all taken real steps to get harmful additives out of school meals — and bipartisan support is growing nationwide. Parents across the political spectrum agree: we want our kids to eat real food.

California’s shift didn’t increase meal costs — in fact, some school districts saved money. That’s because better food doesn’t have to be more expensive — it just has to be a priority.

Minnesota has the chance to lead the Midwest in putting students’ health first.