STAT+: One California politician’s unexpected crusade against ultra-processed food

STAT PlusHealth One California politician’s unexpected crusade against ultra-processed food Jesse Gabriel has grabbed national headlines by cracking down on ultra-processed foods. The issue, he says, was “not on my dance card.” Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Sarah ToddJune 15, 2026 Reporter, Commercial Determinants of Health Sarah Todd[email protected]Sarah covers how industries like food and tobacco affect Americans’ bodies and minds. Her interests include ultra-processed foods; smoke-free tobacco; and wellness trends like perimenopause products and peptides. Confidential tips can be sent on Signal at sarahlizchar.47. California legislator Jesse Gabriel has made a name for himself with a suite of bills aimed at reducing the health harms of ultra-processed food. So it might seem counterintuitive that inside his office is a pillow shaped like a bag of Skittles, complete with the brand’s iconic upside-down rainbow and a few oversized felt candies peeking through a clear plastic window. “It’s an inside joke,” Gabriel explained one recent afternoon over Zoom, speaking from his office in downtown Sacramento. His staff gave him the pillow after he introduced a bill in 2023 that opponents dubbed, inaccurately, the “Skittles ban.” In fact, Skittles remain alive and well since his California Food Safety Act was signed into law, prohibiting the use of four additives (including brominated vegetable oil and potassium bromate) that have been linked to higher risk of cancer, reproductive problems, and other health issues. And the Food and Drug Administration eventually followed California’s lead by taking action on all four additives.Advertisement Gabriel was elected to the California State Assembly in 2018, but it’s only in the last few years that he’s emerged as a leader on the national stage in the fight against ultra-processed food. Since the 2023 food additives law, he’s been the force behind another state law banning six artificial food dyes, as well as one establishing the first U.S. legal definition of ultra-processed foods and banning those foods from school meals. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In children’s health, nutrition, Obesity, Policy, profiles, public health, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Sarah Todd Reporter, Commercial Determinants of Health Sarah covers how industries like food and tobacco affect Americans’ bodies and minds. Her interests include ultra-processed foods; smoke-free tobacco; and wellness trends like perimenopause products and peptides. Confidential tips can be sent on Signal at sarahlizchar.47. Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended Politics June 15, 2026 As states follow Trump’s Medicaid fraud playbook, people with disabilities struggle to find care A STAT Investigation June 15, 2026 STAT Plus: Amid confusion over Pfizer’s emergency penicillin program, newborn is diagnosed with preventable syphilis Advertisement First Opinion June 15, 2026 I’m a pediatrician. I want to prescribe the right AI to my patients First Opinion June 15, 2026 In many South Asian American families, a child’s autism diagnosis is a secret Politics June 13, 2026 STAT Plus: FDA approves Sanofi diabetes drug for children with stage 3 diabetes Subscriber Picks