Nutrition and Health Policy

California Updates WIC Food Benefits and Authorized Food List

California public health authorities have implemented USDA’s 2024 WIC food package revisions by updating the state’s WIC food benefits and authorised food list, expanding eligible whole grains, dairy alternatives, canned fish and fresh herbs for participants from May 2026. For retailers authorised to accept WIC in California, this locks in a refreshed 2026 authorised product set and POS rules, requiring inventories, coding and customer guidance to stay aligned with the new CDPH WIC food list and shopping guide.

12 May 2026, 18:21cdph.ca.govUnited States

Bulgaria Proposes Food Law Amendments To Ban Industrial Trans Fats

Bulgarian MPs have proposed amendments to the Food Law that would ban the use of industrial (non-naturally occurring) trans-fatty acids in foods and introduce high administrative fines alongside clearer food safety definitions. If enacted, the law would require food manufacturers and retailers to reformulate products within six months of entry into force, effectively eliminating industrial trans fats from the Bulgarian market and tightening alignment with EU health and nutrition policy.

11 May 2026, 11:56parliament.bgBulgaria

EU Council Presidency Compromise on CMO Amendments for Post‑2028 EU School Scheme and Sectoral Interventions

In March 2026 the EU Council Presidency tabled compromise amendments to the CMO Regulation to recast the EU school scheme and related sectoral interventions for 2028–2034, including strict nutrition and additive limits for foods distributed in schools and new sustainability-focused prioritisation criteria. If adopted, food and dairy suppliers into the EU school scheme will need to reformulate products and adjust supply chains to meet sugar, fat and flavour-enhancer bans, while producer organisations using broader CMO sectoral measures should plan for greener, more structured interventions under the future National and Regional Partnership Fund.

11 May 2026, 11:18data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

USDA Final Rule Expands Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has issued a final rule, effective 8 June 2026, expanding allowable fluid milk options in federal Child Nutrition Programs to include whole and reduced-fat milk for participants aged two and older while retaining whole milk for one-year-olds. This deregulatory change restores menu-planning flexibility for schools and child care providers, may modestly reduce program costs, and broadens demand opportunities for dairy suppliers serving these federally funded meal programs.

9 May 2026, 14:21federalregister.govUnited States

Delaware Bill HB 337 Would Mandate Folic Acid Fortification of Corn Masa Flour and Wet Corn Masa Products From 2027

Delaware’s HB 337, which would require folic acid fortification and updated labelling for corn masa flour and wet corn masa products, has cleared a key House committee and seen House Amendment 1 adopted as of 7 May 2026 while it continues through the legislative process. If enacted, food and retail businesses using corn masa ingredients in Delaware would need to reformulate products, adjust packaging and plan for compliance and enforcement exposure ahead of the proposed 1 January 2027 start date.

9 May 2026, 14:21legis.delaware.govUnited States

Texas HHSC Implements SNAP Purchase Restrictions On Candy And Sweetened Drinks

Texas has implemented SNAP purchase restrictions from 1 April 2026 that bar Lone Star Card holders from buying candy and many sweetened drinks, with Texas retailers responsible for enforcing the new rules during a 90-day grace period supported by HHSC office hours. Food and beverage manufacturers and retailers serving the Texas SNAP market should reassess product eligibility against the new definitions, adjust point-of-sale systems and signage for in-store and online sales, and plan for potential sales and compliance impacts once grace-period support ends.

8 May 2026, 06:58hhs.texas.govUnited States

Delaware House Passes Amendment 1 to HB 337 on Corn Masa Folic Acid Recommendation and Reinspection Fees

The Delaware House has adopted Amendment 1 to HB 337, refining a proposed corn masa folic acid fortification bill by correcting prevalence data, making fortification voluntary, and aligning reinspection fees with existing health code provisions. Food manufacturers and distributors of wet corn masa products in Delaware can expect a softer, recommendation-based fortification regime while enforcement continues through established inspection fee mechanisms as HB 337 advances through the legislature.

8 May 2026, 06:56legis.delaware.govUnited States

Taiwan MOHW/TFDA Proposes Revision to Evaluation Method for Blood-Glucose Health Food Claims

Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare is consulting on a revised clinical evaluation methodology for health foods that claim to regulate blood glucose, tightening requirements for study design, subjects, endpoints and statistical analysis. The new standard will determine which blood-glucose health food claims can be authorised in Taiwan, so manufacturers should align current and planned trials with the proposed criteria before the consultation closes and the method is finalised.

7 May 2026, 20:00fda.gov.twTaiwan

New Jersey Senate Bill S4183 Proposes Disclosures for Certain Caffeinated Beverages in Retail Food Establishments

New Jersey has placed Senate Bill S4183 on its 2026–2027 agenda to require retail food establishments to provide disclosures for certain caffeinated beverages. If advanced, this proposal could create new menu and labelling disclosure obligations for restaurants and other food retailers selling high-caffeine drinks, so multi-state operators should monitor its progress alongside related Assembly measures.

7 May 2026, 19:46njleg.state.nj.usUnited States

Delaware HB 394 Would Prohibit Sale of Energy Drinks and Caffeinated Dietary Supplements to Minors

In April 2026, Delaware lawmakers proposed HB 394, a bill that would ban retailers from selling energy drinks and caffeinated dietary supplements to individuals under 18 while leaving possession and consumption by minors legal. If enacted, the law would take effect one year after enactment, requiring convenience stores and other beverage and supplement retailers in Delaware to tighten age controls on high-caffeine products sold to minors.

5 May 2026, 07:23legis.delaware.govUnited States

UK Parliament: Babies and Infants (Allergy Guidance) Bill Introduced

A UK Ten Minute Rule private members' bill has been introduced to require a formal review of official allergy guidance on feeding and weaning of babies and infants. If it progresses, this could eventually lead to changes in clinical and public guidance on infant feeding and allergy management, with potential knock-on expectations for infant food and formula products, but no new legal obligations arise yet.

5 May 2026, 06:55bills.parliament.ukUnited Kingdom

Germany: Finance Minister Outlines 2027 Budget Framework With Planned Plastic and Sugar Levies

Germany’s finance minister has presented the 2027 federal budget framework, signalling plans for new plastic and sugar levies alongside higher alcohol, tobacco and crypto taxes to help finance expanded defence, infrastructure and climate spending. If implemented through forthcoming legislation, these measures would raise fiscal pressure on plastics-intensive and sugar-based products, so companies should start assessing potential cost, pricing and portfolio impacts even though detailed tax designs and start dates remain open.

4 May 2026, 18:20bundestag.deGermany

France: Draft Law No. 2724 to Generalise Vegetarian and Vegan Menus in Collective Catering

In April 2026, a French parliamentary bill was introduced to require public and private collective catering services to serve at least two vegetarian menus per week and, where multiple choices exist, a daily vegan option, backed by reporting and guidance obligations. If adopted, this would impose new menu-planning and data-reporting requirements on schools, hospitals, public institutions, and company canteens, accelerating France’s shift toward more plant-based and climate-conscious food provision in institutional settings.

3 May 2026, 09:22assemblee-nationale.frFrance

California Federal Court Remands Ultra-Processed Foods Suit Against Kraft Heinz To State Court

In April 2026 the federal district court in Northern California remanded the People of the State of California’s consumer-protection and public-nuisance suit against Kraft Heinz and other manufacturers over alleged health harms from ultra-processed foods back to California state court. This keeps a high-profile ultra-processed foods case within California’s enforcement and consumer-protection framework, signalling litigation and reputational risk for branded food manufacturers even in the absence of new product-specific regulation.

30 Apr 2026, 06:18govinfo.govUnited States

Sweden: Livsmedelsverket Consults On Fruit Juice And Fruit Nectar Guidance (LIVSFS 2025:4, Dnr 2026/01631)

The Swedish Food Agency is consulting on non-binding Kontrollwiki guidance to implement its new LIVSFS 2025:4 fruit juice and nectar regulation and to clarify when “no added sugar” nutrition claims may be used on fruit juice, with responses due by 27 May 2026. Juice and nectar producers supplying Sweden should use this window to align formulations and labelling with the June 2026 rules and proposed sugar-claim interpretations, avoiding last-minute relabelling and potential disputes over marketing claims.

28 Apr 2026, 18:20livsmedelsverket.seSweden

Turkey Notifies Draft Bread Codex Amendment Banning Roasted Malt and Similar Ingredients in Bread

Turkey has proposed a national amendment to its bread codex that would ban the use of roasted malt flour, roasted chickpea flour, dark malt extract and similar ingredients to artificially darken or flavour bread, with businesses required to comply by 31 December 2026. This will force bread manufacturers and ingredient suppliers serving the Turkish market to review recipes for dark and whole wheat-positioned breads, anticipate reformulation and labelling changes, and monitor final adoption following the EU standstill period ending in July 2026.

28 Apr 2026, 16:16technical-regulation-information-system.ec.europa.euTürkiye

UK Government Enforces Pre-9pm TV and Online Ban on HFSS Food Advertising

In January 2026 the UK government brought into force a nationwide ban on pre-9pm TV and all online advertising for less healthy (HFSS) food and drink products to reduce children’s exposure to junk food marketing. Food and beverage brands and advertisers now face materially tighter controls on media planning and creative content for UK campaigns, pushing spend towards non-HFSS products and brand-only messaging as part of a broader shift towards prevention-focused public health policy.

24 Apr 2026, 18:24gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Canada Requires Front-of-Package Nutrition Symbol on High-Fat, High-Sugar and High-Sodium Foods

From 1 January 2026, Canada requires a standardised front-of-package nutrition symbol on prepackaged foods that are high in saturated fat, sugars or sodium, following earlier amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations. Food manufacturers and importers now need to audit product portfolios for high-risk nutrition profiles, redesign labels to incorporate the bilingual symbol, and manage reformulation or positioning decisions as these warnings become a prominent factor in consumer choice.

24 Apr 2026, 18:24canada.caCanada

Netherlands Parliament Publishes 2025 Monitor on Child Food Marketing

In April 2026 the Dutch Parliament published the 2025 Monitor on Child Food Marketing as an annexed report, formally documenting how food products are marketed to children in the Netherlands. While the monitor itself does not introduce new legal obligations, it underscores political scrutiny of child‑directed food advertising and could inform future tightening of Dutch marketing rules for food and beverage brands.

23 Apr 2026, 15:20zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Nebraska Enacts LB940 to Prohibit Certain Color Additives in School Meals

In April 2026, Nebraska enacted LB940, banning certain colour additives from use in school meals across the state. Food manufacturers and school food-service providers selling into Nebraska must now treat this as a new statutory filter on permissible ingredients and plan menu and product changes once the law takes effect.

23 Apr 2026, 09:32nebraskalegislature.govUnited States