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Official Seal of the California Department of Education

Restrict UPFs Survey

California – Achieving Higher Standards for Healthy School Meals Survey

Nutrition Services Division

Opening

On January 3, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-01-25 directing state agencies to recommend potential actions to limit the harms associated with ultra processed foods (UPFs) and food ingredients that pose a health risk to individuals.

The State Board of Education (SBE) and the California Department of Education (CDE) are working together to:
 
  • identify areas where California schools can adopt higher standards for healthy school meals above those in federal meal standards
  • provide recommendations to the Governor’s Office for implementing higher standards no later than October 1, 2025
    The CDE is seeking your feedback to help 1) identify current efforts to reduce ultra processed foods and food dyes in school meals and 2) determine considerations when exploring higher nutrition standards for school meals; combined, these factors will inform the development of the recommendations.
    Please complete the survey by April 25, 2025. If you have technical difficulties or questions about the survey, contact us by email at RestrictUPFs@cde.ca.gov.

    All questions are required unless marked optional.

    Instructions

    There are four buttons at the bottom of each screen that help you navigate:

    Next: Allows you to move to the next screen. You will use this button to move through the application as you complete each screen.

    Back: Allows you to return to the previous screen to review answers or to make changes to your answers.

    Reset: Allows you to delete all information entered on that screen
    Save Responses: Allows you to save your place in the survey and return to it at any time. When you select Save Responses, you will be provided with a unique URL (web address) for reentrance. This URL is the only way to access the saved survey, so make sure you bookmark the page.

    After saving your responses, use the unique URL to return to your registration form. Then select     Next to continue to the next screen

    Print Responses: You may choose to print your responses, although it is not necessary. Use the Print Responses button to print a copy of your responses. When you select Print Responses a new tab will open showing a printable version of the entire survey and your responses. To return to the survey, select the original tab in your web browser.
    Submit: The Submit button is only available one time. After selecting the Submit button, your survey responses are immediately transmitted to the CDE and your survey is no longer available for editing or submission. Once your survey has been successfully submitted, you will be redirected to Nutrition What's New web page. You will receive a confirmation email within two hours of submitting your survey responses.