California Bans 'Sell by' Food Labels to Cut Food Waste and Confusion
Manufacturers must replace confusing date phrases with two standardized labels as supporters say the change will reduce waste and save households money.
- On Wednesday, California's Assembly Bill 660 took effect, mandating standardized food date labels and requiring manufacturers to drop "sell by" phrases on products made July 1 forward.
- Current labeling systems lack federal regulation, contributing to nearly 20% of the nation's food waste as consumers mistake "sell by" dates for expiration warnings rather than retailer guidance.
- Manufacturers must now use two standardized labels: "Best if Used By" for peak quality and "Use By" for product safety, drawing a clearer distinction between texture decline and safety concerns.
- Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, the bill's author, called it a "monumental step to keep money in the pockets of consumers," while violators face up to $1,000 in misdemeanor fines under the California Food and Agricultural Code.
- California discards about 6 million tons of food annually, with organic waste accounting for roughly 41% of methane emissions, as similar legislation awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul's signature in New York.
39 Articles
39 Articles
A California law tackling food waste and consumer confusion just went into effect
In Kimberley Kausen’s home, a passed “sell by” date on a jug of milk means different things to different family members. For her daughter, it means the jug belongs in the trash. For her husband, it means the milk is still good for a few more days.Kausen, a chef and cooking teacher in Irvine, California, is more discerning and often uses her sense of smell before deciding what to do with the milk.“I’ll put some thought into it, and if we’re talki…
Can I eat foods past their 'sell by,' 'best by' and 'use by' dates?
Food labels such as “sell by,” “use by” and “best by” have long been confused for expiration dates on grocery products, leading consumers to prematurely throw away perfectly safe and nutritious foods. The Food Safety and Inspection Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, estimates that 30% of the food supply that goes to waste annually is largely due to a label misunderstanding. Product dates are not a guide for safe consumption. Th…
California scraps 'sell by' labels on groceries to cut confusion, waste, and food bills
California is about to alter a familiar feature on food packaging: the date label. Starting July 1, many food packages in the state will begin dropping the phrase "sell by" as California tries to make labels easier for shoppers to understand, cut waste, and help households avoid discarding food that is still good. What's happening? Assembly Bill 660 replaces the current patchwork of date phrases on covered foods with standardized language, Newsw…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
