Nutrition and Health Policy

Massachusetts FY2027 Budget Bill H.5501 — House-Engrossed Emergency Appropriations And Policy Changes

Massachusetts’ FY2027 budget bill H.5501, now at second reading in the Senate, would establish emergency appropriations and embed targeted policy changes on health insurance coverage for HIV prevention drugs, correctional and shelter health workflows, education and transportation reporting, alcoholic-beverage licensing, PFML-related grants, and public-health immunization programmes. If enacted in this form (and not replaced by the Senate’s S.4 substitute), it would tighten compliance expectations primarily for state agencies, health insurers and providers, correctional systems, shelters, school districts, alcoholic-beverage manufacturers, and small employers using PFML, with key implementation dates starting from 1 July 2026.

23 May 2026, 19:03malegislature.govUnited States

Japan CAA Publishes FY Reiwa 7 Consumer Survey Report on Food Labelling

Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency has published its FY Reiwa 7 national consumer survey report on food labelling, summarising a January 2026 poll of 6,050 consumers on how they understand and use label information. While the report does not itself change rules, it will inform future reviews of Japan’s Food Labelling Act and related guidance, highlighting where clearer labelling and targeted education may be needed around dates, allergens, additives and health claims.

23 May 2026, 08:55caa.go.jpJapan

Delaware Senate Committee Reports Out HB 337 on Folic Acid Fortification of Corn Masa Flour

Delaware’s HB 337, which would mandate folic acid fortification of corn masa flour and wet masa products, has advanced after being reported out of the Senate Health & Social Services Committee on 20 May 2026, following earlier House passage. If enacted in its current form, manufacturers and retailers supplying these products into Delaware will need to meet specific folic acid fortification and labelling requirements by 1 January 2027, so food and ingredient businesses should monitor final votes and prepare for potential reformulation and compliance.

23 May 2026, 08:54legis.delaware.govUnited States

New Zealand WTO Addendum Extends Comment Deadline For FSANZ Health Star Rating Proposal P1067

A WTO Technical Barriers to Trade addendum for New Zealand corrects the comment deadline on FSANZ Proposal P1067 (mandatory Health Star Rating system) to 11 July 2026, extending the consultation window beyond the original June date. Food and beverage manufacturers and exporters now have additional time to coordinate submissions on the proposed mandatory front-of-pack labelling regime and should adjust internal timelines while monitoring for matching updates on FSANZ domestic channels.

22 May 2026, 18:57docs.wto.orgAustraliaNew Zealand

Great Britain Updates Nutrition and Health Claims Register With Non-Authorised Claim for Green Kiwifruit Powder

On 19 May 2026, the UK Department of Health and Social Care updated the Great Britain nutrition and health claims register to add a non-authorised health claim (006UKNHCC) for green kiwifruit powder and to publish the register and annex in Excel format. This clarifies that the specified green kiwifruit powder claim cannot be used in Great Britain commercial communications and underlines that GB is actively maintaining a centralised, legally authoritative list of permitted and rejected nutrition and health claims for food marketing.

20 May 2026, 19:52gov.ukUnited Kingdom

FSANZ Opens First Consultation on Mandatory Health Star Rating System (Proposal P1067)

FSANZ has launched a first public consultation on Proposal P1067 to assess mandating the Health Star Rating front-of-pack labelling system on most packaged foods sold in Australia and New Zealand, with submissions due in June 2026. If adopted, a mandatory HSR scheme would standardise nutrition labelling across the food supply, expand coverage beyond the current voluntary system, and require manufacturers and retailers to plan for future packaging, formulation, and labelling changes over a defined transition period.

20 May 2026, 19:19foodstandards.gov.auAustraliaNew Zealand

FSANZ Opens Consultation On Mandatory Health Star Rating System (P1067) For Australia And New Zealand

FSANZ has opened the first public consultation on Proposal P1067 to mandate Health Star Rating symbols on most packaged foods in Australia and New Zealand, with submissions due by 21 June 2026. If adopted, a mandatory, standardised HSR system would reshape front-of-pack nutrition labelling, requiring widespread label changes and creating new compliance and communication expectations for food and beverage manufacturers and retailers across both markets.

20 May 2026, 19:19foodstandards.gov.auAustraliaNew Zealand

Australia/New Zealand: FSANZ Abandons Proposal P1058 On 'Added Sugars' Nutrition Labelling

In March 2026, Food Standards Australia New Zealand decided not to proceed with Proposal P1058, abandoning plans to mandate 'added sugars' declarations in the Nutrition Information Panel for foods in Australia and New Zealand. This removes the prospect of near-term label redesigns for added-sugars data and signals that compliance efforts should stay focused on existing sugar labelling rules and other emerging initiatives such as Health Star Rating rather than preparing for a new NIP requirement.

19 May 2026, 08:29foodstandards.gov.auAustraliaNew Zealand

New Jersey Legislature Proposes Fortifying Corn Masa Act For Folic Acid In Corn Masa Products

In May 2026 New Jersey lawmakers introduced the Fortifying Corn Masa Act to mandate folic acid fortification and specific labelling for corn masa flour, while allowing fortification of wet corn masa products. If adopted, this will create new formulation and labelling obligations for manufacturers and distributors of corn masa products serving New Jersey, with a one-year compliance window after enactment.

15 May 2026, 15:40njleg.state.nj.usUnited States

OECD Consults On Draft Principles For Regulatory Governance Of Large-Scale Food Fortification

The OECD has launched a public consultation (11 May–5 June 2026) on draft Good Practice Principles for regulating large-scale food fortification programmes worldwide. If adopted, these non-binding principles could shape how governments design and enforce fortification rules, influencing future nutrition policy frameworks and compliance expectations for fortified food producers and regulators.

14 May 2026, 18:40oecd.orgGlobal

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