SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — The California legislature has passed Assembly Bill 2244 that would establish a non-ultra-processed certified seal that food manufacturers could place on their products that meet standards for not being ultra-processed.

“While Washington, DC, is paralyzed by inaction, Republicans and Democrats in California are joining forces to empower consumers to avoid harmful ultra-processed foods,” said Jesse Gabriel, the assembly member who authored the bill. “Like the USDA Organic label, this new seal will provide consumers with clear, trustworthy information and make it easier for them to locate healthier foods that are free from harmful additives. Parents shouldn’t need a PhD in chemistry to understand what they’re feeding their kids.”

The bill passed by a vote of 32-0 in the state Senate and by a vote of 72-0 in the state Assembly. California Governor Gavin Newsom has until Sept.30 to decide whether to veto the bill or sign it into law.

No federal law defines ultra-processed food, but the US Department of Health and the US Department of Agriculture have submitted for final review a proposed definition.

The bill in California would establish a process overseen by the California Department of Health where food manufacturers could apply to accredited certification agents to use the non-ultra-processed certified label on their packaging.

A state law in California regarding certain school-related purposes defines ultra-processed food as any food or beverage that contains a specific substance and either high amounts of saturated fat, sodium, or added sugar or a non-nutritive sweetener or other substance. The law requires the California Department of Health to define ultra-processed foods of concern and restricted school foods by June 1, 2028.

CSE shares are trading at about 2,100 rupees, up from near 900 rupees in early June, when transactions were sporadic after years of inactivity, according to Dharawat Securities. UnlistedZone, another platform that facilitates transactions in unlisted shares, quoted CSE at 2,175 rupees.

Interest picked up after Swapan Dasgupta, the new finance minister of West Bengal, said on June 25 that the government was working toward reviving the exchange in the state capital. The rally gained further momentum after CSE outlined a broader strategy in its annual report released Aug. 19. The exchange’s board decided to approach the Securities and Exchange Board of India to request that its February 2025 application for a voluntary exit be put on hold, according to the report.

“Demand remains strong,” said Hitesh Dharawat of Dharawat Securities, which deals in unlisted stocks. The shares “have surged since the West Bengal government signaled plans to revive the exchange.”

CSE said in its annual report that it sees opportunities across bond markets, equity derivatives, currencies, commodities, carbon trading and mutual funds, while also developing offerings for small and medium-sized enterprises. CSE had 1,507 companies listed and about 500 registered stockbrokers as of March 2026, though there was no active trading on the exchange, the report showed.

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The renewed interest comes as the National Stock Exchange of India prepares for its long-awaited initial public offering, putting a spotlight on India’s exchange industry.
Investors have previously piled into unlisted shares of another Indian bourse on expectations of a turnaround. Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India attracted investments from firms including Billionbrains Garage Ventures Ltd., the parent of online brokerage Groww, and Zerodha’s Rainmatter Investments as part of a revival effort, local media reported.MSEI’s unlisted shares surged about 5-fold between December 2024 and January 2025 before losing about half their value since then, according to UnlistedZone. The exchange has yet to establish a significant presence in India’s equity trading market.

Any CSE revival would require regulatory approvals and potentially anchor investors that meet capital-adequacy and “fit and proper” requirements, according to the annual report.

A representative for CSE didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins praised the Trump administration’s agriculture agenda as she took aim at Biden-era food policies, accusing the former administration of pushing Americans away from traditional meat products.

“There was a massive push under the last administration to eat less meat. Could you imagine? Don’t stop eating meat. There was a massive push under the Democrats to eat fake meat and lab-grown meat,” Rollins said.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins pushes back against efforts to move Americans away from traditional meat products. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe / Getty Images)

During an appearance on “Mornings with Maria,” Rollins explained the administration’s long-term cattle strategy, beef imports and efforts to support American farmers and ranchers.

“We’re working on deconstructing and then reconstructing our entire system around homegrown, nutrient-dense, fresh food, making America healthy again,” she said.

Rollins is encouraging Americans to keep meat on the menu as the administration works to rebuild the nation’s cattle herd and strengthen domestic beef production while ranchers face continued economic pressure.

“I was in Iowa… Talking to our ranchers, laying out a long-term program, incentives to retain their heifers, incentives, to make sure that they know that, that we’re behind them,” Rollins said.

Rollins said the administration is also looking to increase federal beef procurement and invest in small and mid-sized regional processors.

DOJ EXPANDS BEEF PRICE INVESTIGATION TO WALMART, COSTCO, AMAZON AND OTHER MAJOR RETAILERS

With ranchers facing a volatile cattle market and concerns about competition in meat processing, Rollins said the administration is focused on giving producers strong long-term incentives while expanding opportunities for U.S. agricultural products overseas.

US FARMER PUSHES FOR ONE MAJOR CHANGE AS IMPORTED BEEF DEBATE HEATS UP

“[We’re] really focusing on young ranchers, getting more people into the business of growing and farming and ranching, is part of this,” Rollins said.

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MINNEAPOLIS — Furthering its portfolio overhaul, General Mills Inc. has completed the sale of its Brazil business to food and beverage company Grupo 3corações.

The $153 million deal, announced in March, includes leading local brands Yoki — with six labels across 21 categories, such as snacks, desserts, popcorn, side dishes, grains and cereals — as well as Kitano seasonings and Mais Vita soy beverages. Also part of the sale are production facilities in Pouso Alegre and Campo Novo do Parecis. Minneapolis-based General Mills said the Brazil operation generated net sales of $350 million in fiscal 2025.

Under its Accelerate strategy, General Mills has been reshaping its product roster to focus on brands and platforms offering more profitable long-term growth potential. The company said the divestiture of the Brazil business will raise its operating profit margin and enable its international segment to better focus on priority global platforms, such as super-premium ice cream, Mexican food, snack bars and pet food.

General Mills noted that, since fiscal 2018, it has turned over about a third of its net sales base via acquisitions and divestitures. Besides the sale of the Brazil operation, divestitures have included the $2.1 billion sale of its US and Canadian yogurt businesses — with brands such as Yoplait, Liberte, Go-Gurt, Oui, Mountain High and :Ratio — to the French companies Lactalis Group and Sodiaal in transactions that closed in 2025. This past June, General Mills also agreed to sell its Häagen-Dazs retail shops in mainland China to an investor group including Chinese tea beverage chain Ningji. On the acquisition side, General Mills closed its $8 billion purchase of Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc. in 2018.

Eusébio, Brazil-based Grupo 3corações — Brazil’s largest coffee company — said the addition of the Yoki and Kitano brands “significantly expands” its industrial, logistics and commercial capabilities and extends its presence to more than 600,000 points of sale across the country. The company described Yoki as well-positioned in a range of categories — including microwave popcorn, farofa, potato sticks, flour, meal components and side dishes — and called Kitano “one of Brazil’s most-established brands in seasonings, herbs and spices.”

“We are completing a highly significant acquisition in our history while, at the same time, beginning a new chapter,” said Pedro Lima, president of Grupo 3corações. “Yoki and Kitano are beloved brands that have been part of the everyday lives of millions of Brazilian families for decades. We embrace this legacy with great respect and with the responsibility of caring for these brands, for the people who build them every day, and for the trust they have established with consumers, while creating the conditions for them to continue growing.”

Grupo 3corações said the addition of the two manufacturing plants in Pouso Alegre and Campo Novo do Parecis expand its production network in Brazil to 15 facilities. The purchase from General Mills also includes an administrative office in São Paulo.

“We were born from coffee, and it was through coffee that we built our relationship with millions of Brazilian families,” Lima added. “Over time, we expanded into new categories and consumption occasions, and the arrival of Yoki and Kitano accelerates this journey. We are bringing together strong brands, talented people, expertise and complementary capabilities — an important step toward establishing ourselves as one of Brazil’s leading food companies.”