AB 2034: Food safety: unsafe additives and ingredient disclosures.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law, under the administration and enforcement of the State Department of Public Health (department), provides for the regulation of various subjects relating to the manufacturing, processing, labeling, advertising, and sale of food, drugs, and cosmetics. A violation of the Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law is punishable as a misdemeanor.

Existing law makes it unlawful for any person to adulterate any food or to manufacture, sell, deliver, hold, or offer for sale any food that is adulterated. Existing law deems a food as adulterated if it is, bears, or contains any food additive that is unsafe, or if it bears or contains any color additive or added poisonous or deleterious substance that is unsafe. Existing law deems, among other things, any food additive, color additive, or an added poisonous or deleterious substance as unsafe for use with respect to any food unless there is in effect a regulation, as specified, that limits the quantity and the use, or intended use, of the substance.

This bill would deem a food additive or dietary ingredient as unsafe in food intended for humans with respect to its intended use unless the substance and its intended use meet a specified condition, including, among others, that the substance and its intended use were introduced after January 1, 1958, but before January 1, 2027, and are used in accordance with a published notice, as described below. Commencing July 1, 2027, if an individual intends to use a food additive or dietary ingredient in food intended for humans pursuant to these provisions, the bill would require the individual to submit a notice to the department that includes the same information required for a specified federal notice. The bill would require the department to verify the information and, if the information is complete, publish the notice in a public database, as specified. The bill would authorize the department, when assessing the safety of a food additive, to consider various factors, including, among others, whether the substance is banned or restricted in other jurisdictions due to concerns about adverse health consequences.

The bill would require, on or before July 1, 2027, the manufacturer of any packaged food product that is sold in this state to provide the department with a complete and accurate list of its food products that, as of the date of submission, are sold in the state and that do not individually list each of the product’s ingredients in the ingredient list on the product’s label. For every product submitted, the bill would require the manufacturer to identify each ingredient not individually named in the ingredient list on the product’s label, as specified.

By creating new crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. May 14, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
2. May 14, 2026Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.)
3. May 13, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
4. April 20, 2026Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
5. April 16, 2026Read second time and amended.
6. April 15, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (April 14).
7. April 8, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.S & T.M. (Ayes 10. Noes 3.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M.
8. March 26, 2026(Pending re-refer to Com. on E.S. & T.M.)
9. March 26, 2026Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 4433.)
10. March 9, 2026Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and E.S & T.M.
11. February 18, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.
12. February 17, 2026Read first time. To print.