Assembly Bill A11087

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   11087
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 24, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. JACKSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring  instruction
   on nutrition in schools
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the  "nutrition
 education act".
   §  2. Legislative purposes and findings. The purpose of this Act is to
 ensure K-12 students receive science-based education on nutrition, phys-
 ical activity, and preventive health in the classroom. This will provide
 students with the knowledge to make  informed  choices  about  diet  and
 exercise,  understand  the long-term effects of poor nutrition and inac-
 tivity, and develop lifelong habits that  promote  personal  and  public
 wellness.
   The Legislature hereby finds as follows:
   a.  One in three American children are overweight or obese, leading to
 an increased risk of chronic illness before adulthood.
   b. Chronic diseases consume a dominant share of United  States  health
 spending.   According  to  the  U.S.  Center  for  Disease  Control  and
 Prevention (CDC), 90% of the $4.9 trillion annual health expenditure  is
 for people with chronic and mental health conditions.
   c.  Research  links  ultra processed foods to higher risks of obesity,
 cancer, and depression. 70% of the average U.S. school  lunch  is  ultra
 processed.
   §  3.  The  education  law is amended by adding a new section 804-e to
 read as follows:
   § 804-E. NUTRITION EDUCATION. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE  FOLLOW-
 ING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "NUTRITION-RELATED CHRONIC DISEASES" MEANS DISEASES THAT ARE LONG-
 TERM  HEALTH CONDITIONS RESULTING FROM POOR DIET AND AN ABSENCE OF REGU-
 LAR PHYSICAL EXERCISE.
   (B) "ULTRAPROCESSED FOODS OF CONCERN" MEANS ANY FOOD OR BEVERAGE  THAT
 CONTAINS  HIGH  AMOUNTS OF SATURATED FAT, SODIUM, ADDED SUGAR, PRESERVA-

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15430-01-6
 A. 11087                            2
 
 TIVES, OR ARTIFICIAL  INGREDIENTS,  SUBJECT  TO  FURTHER  DEFINITION  AS
 ENACTED  BY  THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BY ITS RULEMAKING AUTHORITY HEREIN
 AUTHORIZED.
   (C)  "SCIENCE  BASED"  MEANS  BASED  ON  CREDIBLE, SYSTEMATIC EVIDENCE
 RESULTING FROM RESEARCH, TESTING,  AND  DATA  DRAWN  FROM  PEER-REVIEWED
 STUDIES, EXPERT CONSENSUS, AND MEASURABLE OUTCOMES.
   (D)  "NUTRITION  EDUCATION"  MEANS  COURSES THAT EDUCATE STUDENTS WITH
 SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DIET, EXERCISE, AND NUTRITION WHILE  DEVELOP-
 ING  PROFICIENCY  IN MEAL PLANNING, LABEL READING, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF
 NUTRIENT DENSE FOODS IN THEIR DIET.
   (E) "NUTRIENT DENSE FOOD" MEANS  FOODS  THAT  ARE  HIGH  IN  VITAMINS,
 MINERALS, FIBER, AND PROTEIN WITH NO ADDED SUGARS OR SATURATED FATS.
   2.  ALL  SCHOOLS SHALL INCLUDE INSTRUCTION ON NUTRITION IN ALL GRADES.
 SUCH INSTRUCTION SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A) THE ROLE OF NUTRITION IN METABOLISM AND CELLULAR FUNCTION.
   (B) THE ROLE OF NUTRITION AND EXERCISE IN PREVENTING CHRONIC DISEASES,
 INCLUDING  CARDIOVASCULAR  DISEASE,  DIABETES,  OBESITY,   AND   CERTAIN
 CANCERS.
   (C)  THE  BIOLOGICAL  MECHANISMS AND IMPACTS OF ULTRAPROCESSED FOOD OF
 CONCERN RELATED TO DIET.
   (D) THE ROLE OF NUTRITION AND EXERCISE IN DISEASE PREVENTION,  MANAGE-
 MENT, AND RECOVERY.
   §  4.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule  or  regulation  necessary
 for  the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.