The Texas Nutrition Mandate: A New Era in Med School

On June 22, 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 25 into law. This bill has gotten attention for several of its components, most notably its requirement that foods containing one of a list of 44 additives must bear a warning label. Less attention has been paid to another important aspect of this bill, which is that it is the first law in the country that would require nutrition education for healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. The law ties nutrition education requirements to existing sources of funds, making access to the funds contingent on schools adding nutrition education to their curriculum requirements. Education would be required for physicians and health professionals in training, as well as acting physicians and health professionals, through a continuing education requirement.