Chain restaurants: children’s meals.

Senator Weber Pierson's children's meal nutrition legislation requires California chain restaurants to offer at least one children's meal option meeting specific dietary standards, including caps of 550 calories, 700 milligrams of sodium, and 15 grams of added sugar. The measure applies to restaurants with 20 or more locations operating under the same name and offering substantially similar menus.

Under the new requirements, qualifying children's meals must include at least two servings from designated food categories such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean proteins, or whole grains. Chain restaurants must identify these meals on their menus with a prominent icon or symbol displayed adjacent to the item name. The bill's nutritional criteria align with federal dietary guidelines and industry standards established by the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell 2.0 program.

The legislation mandates that affected restaurants incorporate compliance procedures into their employee training programs by July 1, 2026. Local health agencies will enforce these provisions as part of their existing oversight responsibilities under the California Retail Food Code, with violations classified as infractions. The measure builds upon current state law requiring restaurants to make water, milk, or non-dairy alternatives the default beverages for children's meals.