by Emily Shoemaker, VRG Intern

Senate bill 5026, the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2026, was presented by Senator Bernie Sanders on July 16th, 2026. The bill’s intended scope is “to require warning labels on sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, foods and beverages containing high-intensity sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, and foods high in nutrients of concern, such as added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, to restrict junk food advertising to children.” This summary will focus on the consequences specifically relating to ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to expand upon our recent article on state legislation regarding UPF’s in school lunches: https://www.vrg.org/blog/2026/08/31/state-legislation-regarding-ultra-processed-foods-possible-effects-on-vegan-diets/.

The Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2026 has a simple application. The label requirement indicates that a product will be identified as misbranded : “if it is an ultra-processed food, including a beverage, intended for human consumption and is offered for sale, unless its label includes the following statement: ‘Food and Drug Administration Warning: Consuming ultra-processed foods and drinks can cause weight gain, which increases the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.’ ” The label is unique for each type of unhealthy food listed. For example, the warning specific to sugar-sweetened beverages mentions tooth decay in addition to obesity and type 2 diabetes.

While the bill does not pose any restrictions on serving UPFs, it does propose a definition which could be used in future legislation. The full definition can be found below.

“ … a food, including a beverage, containing one or more industrial ingredients, including surface-active agents, stabilizers and thickeners, propellants, aerating agents and gases, color and coloring adjuncts, emulsifiers and emulsifier salts, flavoring agents and adjuvants, flavor enhancers, surface-finishing, high-intensity sweeteners, and other ingredients, as the Secretary determines appropriate; and

 (ii) does not include—

 (I) any product that meets the definition of ‘healthy’ set forth in current regulations promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration; or

 (II) infant formula.”

The FDA’s definition of “healthy” is a highly specific set of nutrition requirements broken up by food group equivalents which were made to be consistent with federal dietary guidance. The specifics for how a vegan alternative would be classified depends greatly on what food group equivalent it falls into.

Upon its second reading, the bill was given to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) for review and revisions. It has since been approved with substantial revisions which have not yet been released, but are likely to remove and/or alter many of the variables currently listed as of early August 2026. Only time will tell how the definition progresses.