Chain restaurants: children’s meals

The law sets statewide nutrition limits and food-component requirements for a children’s meal option at chains with 20 or more locations.

What the law does ​

• Requires covered chain restaurants to offer at least one children’s meal with no more than 550 calories, 700 milligrams of sodium, 10% of calories from saturated fat, 15 grams of added sugar, and zero trans fat.
• Requires that meal to include at least two qualifying servings of fruit, vegetables, low- or nonfat dairy, meat or a meat alternative, or whole grains.
• Requires covered chains to include compliance information in ongoing and new-employee training by July 1, 2027.

Who it affects ​

• Restaurant chains with 20 or more locations operating under the same name and selling substantially the same menu items.
• Employees involved in training or providing children’s meals at covered chains.
• Families purchasing children’s meals at covered chains.

Context ​

Existing law separately requires restaurants’ default children’s-meal beverages to be water, specified flavored or sparkling water, unflavored milk, or a qualifying nondairy milk alternative.