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.”

https://www.statnews.com/2026/06/15/jesse-gabriel-ultra-processed-food-california-laws-national-impact/ By Sarah ToddJune 15, 2026 Reporter, Commercial Determinants of Health Jesse Gabriel, a California lawmaker representing the western San Fernando Valley, never expected ultra-processed food to become one of his signature issues. But in the last few years, he’s emerged as a national leader building public health policies to regulate the ingredients in our food. In 2023, he introduced a bill prohibiting the use of four additives that have been linked to higher risk of cancer, reproductive problems, and other health issues. The FDA eventually followed his lead, taking action on all four additives. “People often copy what California does,” Gabriel told STAT’s Sarah Todd. But the federal government has yet to create new laws or regulations that make changes in food production a requirement. As he works on new legislation in the Golden State, he wants to spur similar momentum nationally.