SB 645

Current law generally prohibits serving margarine as a substitute for table butter to students, patients, or inmates of a state institution. Current law also prohibits the serving of colored margarine at a public eating place as a substitute for table butter unless the margarine is ordered by the customer. Current law does not define “table butter.” A person who violates these prohibitions is subject to specified criminal penalties.

This bill modifies these prohibitions so that they apply to “butter” rather than “table butter.” The bill also modifies the prohibition on serving margarine as a substitute for butter to students by expanding the prohibition to apply to students at public, private, and tribal schools, but also creates an exception for margarine that is ordered by the student or for the student by the student’s parent or guardian. In addition, the bill prohibits the use of margarine as a substitute for butter in meals prepared for service to students at public, private, and tribal schools, except when necessary for the health of a specific student as directed by the student’s health care provider.