food and Drug branch (fdb)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Assembly Bill (AB) 1830

Corn Masa Flour and Wet Corn Masa Products: Folic Acid Fortification

What is Assembly Bill AB 1830?

AB 1830 (Chapter 912, Statutes of 2024) was signed into law on September 28, 2024, and requires corn masa flour and wet corn masa products to be fortified with folic acid. Also, AB 1830 requires corn masa flour and wet corn masa products to include a declaration of folic acid on the nutrition label.

What is the definition of “corn masa flour” in AB 1830?

Per AB 1830, “Corn masa flour,” also commonly known as masa harina, means a dry flour-type product made from corn that has been treated with slaked lime and or otherwise undergoes a process known as nixtamalization.

What is the definition of “wet corn masa product” in AB 1830?

Per AB 1830, “Wet corn masa product” means food manufactured by using an alkali solution with corn kernels to transform them into nixtamal. Wet corn masa product does not include products made with corn masa flour.

What is California’s definition of a “manufacturer”?

A manufacturer is an individual or business who conducts any of the activities included in the definition of “manufacture” found in California law. Specifically, Health and Safety Code, Section 109970 provides the following: “Manufacture” means the preparation, compounding, propagation, processing, or fabrication of any food, drug, device, or cosmetic. The term “manufacture” includes repackaging or otherwise changing the container, wrapper, or labeling of any food, drug, device, or cosmetic in furtherance of the distribution of the food, drug, device, or cosmetic. The term “manufacture” does not include repackaging from a bulk container by a retailer at the time of sale to its ultimate consumer.

What are the compliance dates associated with AB 1830?

Starting January 1, 2026, corn masa flour manufactured, sold, delivered, distributed, held, offered for sale, or used as an ingredient in a food product must contain 0.7 milligrams of folic acid per pound of corn masa flour within an acceptable industry standard deviation of error.
Starting January 1, 2026, wet corn masa product manufactured, sold, delivered, distributed, held, offered for sale, or used as an ingredient in a food product may contain 0.4 milligrams of folic acid per pound of end product within an acceptable industry standard deviation of error.

What products are exempt from the requirements of AB 1830?

110531 (c)

(1) A person or entity may manufacture, sell, deliver, distribute, hold, offer for sale, or use as an ingredient in the manufacture of products corn masa flour that does not meet the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), if they meet the definition of, or are suppliers to, any of the following:

A) A cottage food operation as defined in Section 113758.
B) A food facility as defined in Section 113789.

C) A grocery store, as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 113948, that offers for retail sale corn masa flour that does not contain folic acid, so long as the grocery store also offers for retail sale corn masa flour that meets the required folic acid requirements in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).

(2) This section shall not apply to snack foods.

May grocery stores donate non-fortified food products to charities or foodbanks?

AB 1830 did not include language about donation, charities, or food banks.

Does the Department expect any change to the January 1, 2026, compliance date for the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of fortified foods?

CDPH is not aware of change to this California law. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of corn masa flour and wet corn masa products must comply with the January 1, 2026, date.