2026 Update: Big Wins, Big Stakes, and Empowered Consumers! 🥦

June 10, 2026

Hello FoodFight USA Warriors!

We have been hard at work in our fight to clean up our nation’s food supply, and we have lots of news to share. From a new bill in California that brings our healthier, non-UPF seal idea to life, to a landmark bill in New York

that requires GRAS transparency, the momentum is real and Big Food is on defense. Industry lobbyists are fighting back in Washington. That’s why your support matters now more than ever. Please consider a donation to fuel our nonprofit, nonpartisan fight.

We are thrilled to welcome health influencer Maddy Renne as our newest FoodFight USA Warrior! Follow Maddy on Instagram and TikTok as she highlights the stark differences between food in Europe vs. the U.S., and why it matters for your health.

Policy Gains

FoodFight USA continues to drive a new wave of state and federal legislative action in service of our first mission: to stop self-regulation by food companies and clean up our tainted food supply.

California introduces fourth landmark bill. Following a recommendation from FoodFight USA, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel has introduced AB 2244, legislation that would create the nation’s first “California Certified” seal for foods that are not ultra-processed. Grocery stores would be required to prominently display certified products in high-traffic areas. We couldn’t agree more with Asm. Gabriel’s statement: “Parents shouldn’t need a Ph.D. in chemistry to understand what they’re feeding their kids. AB 2244 will empower consumers with clear, trustworthy information and make it easier for them to locate healthier foods.”

New York advances GRAS transparency bill. In a major bipartisan victory, the New York State Legislature has passed S1239E/A1556G, the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act. The Senate passed it unanimously 60–0, followed by the Assembly 106–32, and it now awaits Governor Hochul’s signature. FoodFight USA worked closely with Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles to support this bill, which mandates new GRAS transparency requirements for processed foods sold statewide and bans three harmful additives—Red No. 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben—linked to cancer and hormone disruption.

Bipartisan State Legislative Momentum. We now know of 37 U.S. states that have introduced or passed legislation seeking chemical ingredient bans, warning labels, improved school nutrition, GRAS transparency, statutory UPF definitions, and farm-to-fork programs. When it comes to protecting the health of American families, this is NOT a partisan issue!

A growing wave of UPF lawsuits target Big Food. According to our sources, lawsuits have been filed in 8 states now–Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, and Wisconsin–and additional filings are coming soon. The Wisconsin suit names 12 major food companies, including Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and General Mills; seeks $1 billion in damages; and argues that ultraprocessed foods are scientifically engineered to be addictive, straight from the tobacco industry’s playbook. Law firms across the country are collaborating and sharing information. Discovery is a powerful tool! This litigation will force companies to be held to account for what they knew and when they knew it.

Big Food pushes for Federal Preemption. Even as states rack up wins, food industry lobbyists are pushing back in Washington. The FRESH Act (don’t let the name fool you!), would use federal preemption to override state food safety laws, potentially nullifying every chemical ban, warning label, and GRAS transparency requirement states have fought to pass. This bill is still in draft form, but we are watching it closely. As EWG’s Scott Faber told a House committee: “Our states are the solution, not the problem.” We agree!

Empowered Consumers

Our second mission is to empower consumers to make informed food choices. FoodFight USA is giving shoppers more tools, more allies, and more reasons to demand better.

Championing consumer empowerment in Florida. Earlier this month, FoodFight USA’s Todd Wagner sat down for a meaningful visit with State of Florida Leadership. We applaud the Healthy Florida initiative and the state’s commitment to food safety and consumer empowerment. The meeting opened exciting new doors for FoodFight USA in Florida, including an opportunity to meet with the Florida Department of Education and partner with their team to develop nutrition education guidance for nearly 3 million K-12 students across the state of Florida.

Retailers Are Getting Ahead of Regulation. Aldi has announced it will ban 44 harmful additives — including BHA, BHT, potassium bromate, and titanium dioxide — from its private-label products by the end of 2027. Aldi isn’t alone: Walmart, Nestlé USA, and Kraft Heinz have all announced commitments to remove artificial dyes and harmful additives from their products — proof that when consumers demand change, even Big Food listens.

More ways to get educated and empowered. If you want to go deep and learn all about food policy, we recommend the Food Fix newsletter and the American Dish podcast, with award-winning reporter Helena Bottemiller Evich. Our co-founder, Todd Wagner, was the featured guest on an episode that dropped May 27th. Listen wherever you find your podcasts.

Stay tuned for our “Apps We Love” social media campaign, featuring an interactive quiz to help you find the best food-scanning app for your lifestyle. Whether you’re managing diabetes, feeding a family, or just starting to clean up your pantry, there’s an app for you.

Farming Momentum

Our third mission is to work with American farmers to grow healthier foods that work for them economically and benefit consumers’ health. We continue our deep commitment to regenerative agriculture and supporting our nation’s farmers.

FoodFight USA and Chef Johanna Hellrigl take the fight to SXSW. In March, Todd Wagner took the stage at SXSW along with our new warrior Chef Johanna Hellrigl. They both spoke to the urgent need to reform our food system from farm to fork. As Chef Johanna put it: “Our food systems and our farmers are suffering.” Todd called out the monocropping system born after World War II, and made the case for rethinking crop insurance, subsidies, and incentives to scale regenerative farming. Their message was clear: “We’ve GOT to change the farming system.”

Demeter, Campo Verde, and the gold standard of clean food. We continue to champion Demeter-certified, biodynamic agriculture as the gold standard for regenerative farming. Be sure to follow Maddy Renne’s European travels later this summer as she visits Campo Verde, the world’s largest 100% Demeter-certified brand. Visit WTH Can I Eat Now? to learn more about why we love Demeter.