Asm. Jesse Gabriel has filed a measure to phase out ultraprocessed foods from school meals.
The Encino lawmaker is riding on the success of previous bans on food dyes in schools and ingredients in candies, sodas and baked goods. The new bill steals the thunder from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who in January directed agencies to investigate the potential harms of ultraprocessed foods. AB 1264 would task those agencies to partner with UC researchers on identifying those harms, with the goal of phasing out the ingredients by 2032.
Gabriel calls it common sense to not serve foods that could harm students’ physical and mental health. His previous legislation drew strong opposition from the Consumer Brands Association, which argued his claims were not grounded in science.
MAHA saga: Gabriel has denied any connections to the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But his food bills have dovetailed with Kennedy’s agenda and previous advocacy.
Gabriel’s legislation has resulted from partnerships with some of the same interest groups that have influenced Kennedy. The HHS secretary announced Tuesday that FDA will step up testing for heavy metals in infant formula products.
The news coincided with Consumer Reports issuing new test results on those products. The organization, known for its product reviews, has also been a staunch advocate for more FDA oversight of food ingredients. It co-sponsored Gabriel’s 2023 bill on food dyes.
Gabriel’s bill last year was the result of a relationship with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Kennedy was a top litigator for the environmental group throughout the ’80s and ’90s.
Take note: Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher has thrown his support behind the new bill, praising its alignment with MAHA.
Former USDA official: Reciprocal tariffs could undermine efforts to lower egg prices
The administration’s efforts to control food inflation could be running into a challenge with President Donald Trump’s trade policy. Former USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber says reciprocal tariffs run the risk of undermining administration efforts to bring egg prices down — if adopted as described.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled the administration’s strategy to combat avian flu last month, which included increasing egg imports. But Glauber pointed out egg-exporting nations maintain high duties on U.S. ag products — putting in them in line for reciprocal tariffs.
Turkey provides the U.S. with around 7 million dozen eggs, Glauber said. But it also has an average tariff on agricultural products of nearly 40%, way above the U.S.’ 5%.
If the tariffs are implemented as Trump and other officials have described, Glauber said they’ll run head on into the other policy goal. “These things can be really destructive,” Glauber warned. “We'll have to see what it looks like come April 2.”
Take note: The Federal Reserve raised its inflation forecast Wednesday in part due to tariffs, Chair Jerome Powell said.
USDA reports revived
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is reinstating some reports that were canceled last year due to budget constraints: the July Cattle report and County Estimates for Crops and Livestock.
The Biden administration’s decision to cancel the reports was criticized by major ag groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen's Beef Association and National Grain and Feed Association.
USDA to hold webinar on poultry biosecurity initiative
USDA is holding a webinar today to explain how poultry producers can request biosecurity assessments, part of the department’s recently announced efforts to combat the bird flu.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service “will prioritize assessments at commercial egg-laying facilities in the highest egg-producing states.”
The agency will conduct wildlife biosecurity assessments and recommend measures to control wild birds and other animals that may be carrying the bird flu virus. Another type of assessment will focus on facilities outside control areas for highly pathogenic avian influenza.
USDA will share up to 75% of the costs to fix the highest risk biosecurity concerns identified by the assessments.
Producers can sign up for the webinar here.
Farm machinery giant joins biofuel group
John Deere has joined the biofuel trade association Growth Energy as a premium associate member.
Growth Energy represents a large swath of the ethanol space, including biorefineries and various groups tied to the biofuel economy. It advocates for issues like year-round E15, extending a “pro-growth” 45Z tax credit for clean fuel producers and more.
“Renewable fuels like corn ethanol deliver clear benefits by enhancing energy independence, reducing prices at the pump, and lowering emissions, all of which are made possible by our farmer customers,” said Cory Reed, president of the Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division for Production and Precision Agriculture at John Deere.
Final word:
“It's a pretty challenging time in general for a California farmer.” — California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass, at a California Ag Day press conference.
Read our full report at Agri-Pulse.com.
