CA Governor Newsom Vetoes PFAS Ban in Cookware, All Food Packaging
On October 13, 2025, California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, returned without signature a bill passed by the state legislature that would have phased out the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cookware and in a range of other consumer product categories, including all food packaging. Specifically, Senate bill 682 proposed to prohibit the distribution, sale, or offering for sale in California of any food packaging that contains intentionally-added PFAS on and after January 1, 2028. Existing California law already prohibits the sale and distribution of fiber-based food packaging containing PFAS. Additionally, the law would have prohibited the distribution and sale in California of cookware that contains intentionally-added PFAS after January 1, 2030.
The veto was driven by the Governor’s concern over a lack of affordable cookware options for Californians, if SB 682 had taken effect. In his veto, Governor Newsom commented that, while he shares the goal of the bill’s author “to protect human health and the environment by phasing out the use of PFAS in consumer products,” he was “deeply concerned” about the impact the bill would have on the availability of “affordable options in cooking products.” In returning the bill to the State Senate, Newsom shared that he “appreciate[d] the efforts to protect the health and safety of consumers,” but “the broad range of products that would be impacted by this bill would result in a sizable and rapid shift” in available cookware options in California. The Governor encouraged the bill’s author, State Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), and stakeholders “to continue discussions in this space, while ensuring that we are not sacrificing the ability of Californians to afford household products like cookware.”
The controversial bill had garnered national attention due to the cookware provisions specifically, with fierce resistance from industry stakeholders like the Cookware Sustainability Alliance and celebrity chefs like Rachael Ray voicing their opposition to the bill. Environmental advocacy groups like Environmental Working Group (EWG) called the Governor’s veto “a disappointing setback for health and environmental protection in California” and a “major step backward” for protecting millions of Californians from so-called forever chemicals.
(For more background on SB 682, see the PackagingLaw.com article, CA Legislature Passes Bill Banning PFAS in all Food Packaging, Cookware | PackagingLaw.com.)