LOS ANGELES, CA, February 03, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Today, the Kava Coalition welcomed an important update from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which revised its Consumer Fact Sheet for Kava to clearly recognize traditionally prepared kava as a lawful single ingredient conventional food when steeped in water.
Following input by the Kava Coalition and ongoing dialogue with state regulators, CDPH updated its guidance to explicitly state that kava steeped solely in water and prepared as a single ingredient beverage is not regulated as a food additive. The updated Consumer Facts Kava 2026 document now reads: “Kava would generally not be regulated as a food additive if kava is steeped in only water to brew tea and consumed as a single ingredient conventional food.”
In addition to this clarification, CDPH materially revised the summary section of the fact sheet. While the earlier version referenced only the absence of regulatory limitations for kava as a dietary supplement, the updated document now states that “there are currently no regulatory limitations regarding the use of kava as a single ingredient conventional food or dietary supplement.” This change explicitly expands lawful use beyond supplements and directly affirms the legitimacy of traditional water-based kava preparation.
“This update provides long-needed clarity for consumers, businesses, and regulators alike,” said Douglas La Rose, Executive Director of the Kava Coalition. “For more than a year, the Kava Coalition has worked closely with kava bars across California to petition for clear guidance, and the state has now provided that clarity. We also consulted extensively with Pacific Islander communities who were deeply concerned about California’s position on kava as a conventional food. Traditional kava preparation has profound cultural significance and a long history of safe use, and we are encouraged to see California’s guidance now clearly reflect that reality.”
California is home to one of the largest Pacific Islander populations in the continental United States, including communities from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and other kava-producing cultures. For these communities, kava is not only a social beverage but a cornerstone of cultural practice, ceremony, and identity. The updated CDPH guidance provides meaningful cultural recognition while also supporting small businesses and community spaces that contribute to local economies throughout the state.
The Kava Coalition views this update as a significant step forward for public understanding, regulatory consistency, and cultural recognition in California. After a period of uncertainty, the revised guidance offers a more stable and accurate framework for how kava is prepared and consumed across the state.
The Coalition expressed appreciation for the engagement of CDPH staff and acknowledged the persistence and collaborative efforts of its members and partners who contributed to this outcome.
Copies of the prior and updated fact sheets are available upon request from CDPH.
About Kava Coalition
The Kava Coalition is an alliance of noble kava consumers, experts, and industry leaders committed to advancing kava education, advocacy, and choice. By promoting responsible consumption, market transparency, and cultural respect, the Coalition works to ensure that noble kava is widely recognized, accessible, and valued as a safe, pro-social beverage. For more information, visit www.kavacoalition.org.
Media Contact
Douglas La Rose
info@kavacoalition.org
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