California is showing what it takes to make school meals healthier—not just by setting higher standards, but by giving schools the resources to meet them.

Across nearly 10,000 public schools serving 5.7 million students, the state has made breakfast and lunch free for all public school students, expanded farm-to-school programs, and invested in kitchen equipment and staff training to enable more scratch cooking. These investments matter. As we emphasize in GFI's recent brief on reducing added sugars in children's diets, strong nutrition standards need to go hand in hand with the resources schools need to meet them.

Now California is taking another bold step (with many more states considering similar action). Its first-in-the-nation Real Food, Healthy Kids Act will phase certain ultraprocessed foods of concern out of school meals. Evidence linking ultraprocessed foods to poor health is growing, but deciding which foods to restrict is far from straightforward. There's no universally agreed-upon definition, and many schools rely on processed foods to prepare affordable, nutritious meals at scale.

That's why I'm encouraged that California is seeking public input as it develops its rules. Parents, school food professionals, researchers, and others can all help shape standards that improve children's diets while recognizing the realities of school kitchens.

This is a balancing act I know well. When I was at USDA, we faced similar challenges as we strengthened federal school meal standards for added sugars and sodium. We wanted changes ambitious enough to improve children's diets, but realistic enough for schools to implement and sustain. That meant balancing the realities faced by the people preparing and serving those meals every day with our goal of improving children’s diets.

Getting that balance right is hard work. But children’s health is worth the effort.

Stacy Dean
Carbonell Family Executive Director
Global Food Institute

Join us for Food & Agriculture Policy Summit!

From December 8–10, join Food Tank, GFI, José Andrés, the Culinary Institute of America, and partners for the second annual Food and Agriculture Policy Week in Washington, D.C. The week will feature conversations on Capitol Hill and culminate in a half-day Food and Agriculture Policy Summit at GW on December 10, bringing together food system leaders to explore policies that support a healthier population and planet.

A Food System That Works for Workers

What would it take to build a food system that works better for the people who grow, harvest, prepare, and serve our food? Our latest Conversation on Food Justice webinar, co-hosted with the Aspen Institute Food & Society Program, explored policies and models that could shift power and opportunity across the food economy—from stronger labor standards to employee ownership. 

On October 6, the Capital Area Food Bank, the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, and GW co-hosted the 2026 Regional College Hunger Conference, bringing together campus leaders, students, and advocates to address college food insecurity.

At the conference, GFI’s Priya Fielding-Singh and Brown University’s Gabby Headrick led a workshop introducing their new human-centered design toolkit, developed with Swipe Out Hunger. The toolkit helps campuses design food security solutions with students experiencing food insecurity rather than for them.

 

(Photo by Sarah L. Voisin For Capital Area Food Bank)

Together at the Table. From November 12–13 in Waco,Texas, the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty will host its annual gathering focused on ending hunger. This year's event will explore how partnerships across differences can help communities develop practical solutions to food insecurity.

Hunger Free Communities Virtual Summit. On November 19, this virtual event from the Alliance to End Hunger will highlight innovative community-based solutions that leverage federal nutrition programs. The summit offers actionable models for systems change and features food justice pioneer Karen Washington.

Academy of Food Law and Policy Scholarship Conference. On November 19–20 at GW Law School, scholars working across food and agriculture law and policy will gather for collaborative workshops and discussions on emerging research and legal issues, including litigation involving ultraprocessed foods.

International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition. From November 23–24, join global scientists and practitioners in London to advance sustainable agriculture, food security, and nutrition research through interdisciplinary idea exchange and peer networking.

FOOD 2030 Networks Conference. On November 25–26 in Dublin, Ireland, and online, the FOOD 2030 Networks will explore how public engagement and citizen participation can help drive food systems transformation, with discussions, workshops, and examples from projects across Europe.

Call for Papers: Innovation in the Agricultural and Food System. The National Bureau of Economic Research is seeking original economics research for a May 2027 conference on innovation across the food system, including biotechnology, AI, productivity, resilience, and agricultural R&D. Submissions are due February 2027.

A Fix for Stolen Benefits? An in-depth investigation exposed widespread theft of SNAP benefits through outdated EBT cards. USDA has since proposed requiring more secure, chip-enabled cards, though Congress has yet to fund the transition or restore reimbursement for stolen benefits. ProPublica

When Food Supply Chains Break. How do geopolitical conflicts and disruptions in fertilizer, energy, and agricultural markets threaten food security? In this conversation, former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack explores vulnerabilities in global food supply chains and strategies for building resilience. Meridian International Center

Become an Aspen Food Leaders Fellow. Applications for the 2027 Aspen Food Leaders Fellowship open November 10 and close December 14. The 18-month program brings together emerging food system leaders to build relationships, strengthen their leadership, and advance food system change. Aspen Institute

Food Security Is National Security. More than 150 experts are urging the British government to treat food security as a national security priority, warning that climate change, geopolitical shocks, cyberattacks, and supply chain disruptions could leave the country vulnerable to food shortages. The Guardian

States Face a Bigger SNAP Bill. On October 1, states became responsible for a greater share of SNAP administrative costs, raising concerns about state budgets and food assistance access. GFI's Stacy Dean and Priya Fielding-Singh spoke with reporters about what these changes mean for states and families. USA Today | Moneywise

Rethinking How We Lower Grocery Prices. Could federal purchasing power help make groceries more affordable? A new proposal would allow the government to negotiate lower wholesale prices on staple foods, helping smaller retailers compete with big chains and pass savings on to shoppers. The Atlantic

What can food stories teach us about the world? In The Best American Food and Travel Writing 2026, guest editor, chef, humanitarian, and GFI founder José Andrés brings together stories exploring food's connections to everything–from war and politics to faith and incarceration. In a reflection on the collection, Andrés discusses the power of great food writing to transport us to unfamiliar places while also bridging divides.

We want to lift up your work and share information about events, opportunities to collaborate or whatever you think is important to share. Email us at globalfoodinstitute@gwu.edu. 

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