Food Policy Roundup: Farm Bill, SNAP, CA Ultra-Processed Food Labeling & Cyclospora Outbreak Updates

Farm Bill Update

The 2026 Farm Bill, which passed the U.S. House earlier this year, has been tied up in the Senate Agriculture Committee for much of this summer, until just last week! With the highly publicized return of Senator Mitch McConnell to the committee, the group finally had enough votes to pass “Farm Bill 2.0” by a narrow 12-11 vote along party lines. While much work has been put in to markup the bill in the Senate Committee, it had failed to pass the majority required to send it to the Senate Floor for a full vote. Previously, the Committee voted on August 6th to move the bill to the floor, but the vote failed on partisan lines. Democrats had cited the ongoing limitations on SNAP benefits and imposed cost-shifting under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as discussed below, as a hardline sticking point for their support of the Farm Bill. Due to illness, Senator McConnell was absent from the votes, making it even harder for Republicans to get this bill through. Despite this delay, the Republican leadership of the committee was finally able to push the Bill out of committee on 9/16 when it returned to session. The Bill still does not include the SNAP cost-shifting provisions that Democrats had held out for. The committee leadership and Republican majority in the Senate are now intent on getting this bill to the floor as soon as possible.

This urgency is due to the fact that the current extension to the 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire on September 30, 2026. If that time passes without a replacement Farm Bill or an extension, many of the safety net programs that farmers rely on will run dry. Therefore, the Farm Bill appears to be caught in a game of political chicken, and we shall see if they are to come to some sort of agreement by the deadline. Both sides have indicated that they are willing to negotiate at the bargaining table, so this is definitely an active development to keep an eye on. A full Senate floor vote is expected in the coming weeks, but the bill will need the support of 60 Senators to avoid a filibuster, so much politicking will need to take place to get some of the 45 Senate Democrats on board. I will be in touch with more updates as we learn more!

SNAP Updates

Major changes to the federal SNAP program are also upon us. Starting on October 1, 2026, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the federal government will begin paying just 25% of most states’ SNAP administrative expenses, leaving states responsible for up to 75% of the administrative costs. This comes as the program has seen millions of recipients drop out of the program since the Act’s implementation, as various age and work requirements have been added over the past year. Overall, this change will have major financial impacts on states such as California and force them to readjust their state budgets to balance against this increased expenditure.

On the other hand, SNAP monthly benefits will also be going up on October 1, 2026, as the cost-of-living adjustments will be implemented for the 2027 fiscal year. This will add money to the pockets of those still able to receive funding from the program.

Finally, very recently, there has been another effort to restrict SNAP benefits as Rep. Brandon Gill has introduced legislation in the U.S. House to eliminate SNAP’s Restaurant Meals Program, which allows certain people in one of nine states that accept the program to purchase ready-made meals instead of raw groceries. This effort falls in line with the Republicans' push to decrease SNAP services and limit its coverage. While it is still in its infancy, this effort may see Republican support as they face the looming pressures of the Farm Bill in negotiations with Democratic lawmakers.

In sum, both the Farm Bill and the SNAP program hang in the balance as partisan divides over who gets access to fresh and nutritious food loom large. With the midterms on the horizon, this political debate will take center stage, and whoever comes out the victor in that race is likely to have their way with the federal food infrastructure that hangs in the balance. 

CA Ultra-Processed Food Labeling Update

On a more optimistic note, California has become the first state in the nation to pass legislation to create a state-run non-UPF seal. Just a few weeks ago, the California Legislature passed AB 2244 unanimously in both chambers of the state government. Now, the Bill heads to Governor Newsom's desk, who has until the end of September to either veto the bill or sign it into law! 

Specifically, this bill will establish a non-UPF seal maintained by the CA Department of Public Health. Food products that meet the statutory definitions of a non-UPF food can then apply to the CADPH to be authorized to add the seal to their products. The bill also adds a requirement for large grocery store chains to make clearly identifiable some products that carry the certification and seal.

Overall, this voluntary labeling effort comes as a major first step in helping consumers be able to decipher their grocery store’s shelves and increase consumer knowledge. This effort was supported by a variety of healthcare and environmental coalitions, and the drafters hope it can help change the conversation around ultra-processed foods in the state. It should be noted that this effort comes on the tail of the national UPF definition that is undergoing final rulemaking reviews and is expected to be released soon. Therefore, this state action may risk federal preemption concerns if the federal government chooses to act on UPFs or make a non-UPF seal of its own. However, in the meantime, the law’s changes are not meant to take effect until 2029, and we will need to wait and see if Gov. Newsom ultimately decides to enact the law by the end of this month!

A Bit of Good News: Cyclospora Outbreak Declared Over!

As has taken over the news over the last few months, the nation's largest-ever recorded Cyclospora outbreak has officially been declared over by the CDC! With tens of thousands of confirmed cases of the illness nationwide, the outbreak marks the largest Cyclospora food poisoning outbreak in U.S. history. Throughout the summer, state and federal officials have been working to combat the spread of the illness and track down all of the remaining contaminated iceberg lettuce, which was linked to lettuce processed by Taylor Farms in Mexico. While investigations remain ongoing, this outbreak and the role of Taylor Farms in it will be heavily scrutinized for years to come. Additionally, the outbreak and associated panic caused large drops in lettuce consumption, which has severely harmed the food industry at large and many of the salad-based retailers nationwide. As a result of this increased scrutiny, these businesses will likely continue to see the effects as consumers remain hesitant to trust their produce. Nevertheless, the CDC has now confirmed that all affected lettuce has since been removed from the supply chain and that the outbreak has officially ended. So, enjoy eating your salads once again!

Daniel Schettini (he/him) is a third-year law student at the UCLA School of Law. Originally from Long Beach, CA, Daniel is a proud Double-Bruin. Daniel attended UCLA as an undergraduate, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) in physiological science and political science. In law school, Daniel is a Managing Editor of the UCLA Law Review, the Vice-President of the UCLA Law SBA, and Vice President of External Outreach for the Moot Court Honors Board. He has also previously served as the Treasurer of the SBA, Vice-Chair of the Food Law Society, the Vice President of the Health Law Society, and the Education Chair of OUTLaw. His legal studies are predominantly focused on the intersection between food policy, the environment, and human health. During his first summer, Daniel gained valuable litigation experience externing for a Federal Magistrate Judge in the Central District of California. This past summer, Daniel honed his skills as a Summer Associate at King & Spalding focused on healthcare litigation in LA. After graduation, Daniel plans on working in the consumer class action litigation space, where he will continue to explore his interests in health, food, and environmental law.