Key facts
- California has banned 'sell by' food labels on packaged food.
- New labels must be 'Best if Used By' for quality or 'Use By' for safety.
- The law aims to reduce food waste and consumer confusion.
- California is the first state to standardize food labels.
- Similar legislation has been approved in New York and proposed in other states.
California has implemented a new law banning 'sell by' food labels, aiming to reduce confusion and food waste. Starting Wednesday, manufacturers selling food in the state must use standardized labels: 'Best if Used By' for peak quality and 'Use By' for product safety. This initiative seeks to clarify for consumers when food is past its prime quality versus when it is unsafe to eat.
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, the bill's author, stated that food manufacturers can opt to use either or both of the new labels. California is the first state to enact such a standardization, with New York recently approving a similar law. Other states, including Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and South Carolina, have proposed comparable legislation.
Advocates like Nick Lapis from Californians Against Waste highlight that food labels are a primary driver of household food waste. He noted that the standardized wording is a simple yet effective solution. A 2022 report indicated over 50 different date labels exist, often unregulated and not indicative of safety. Kumar Chandran of ReFED emphasized that consumer confusion leads to premature disposal of food.
The push for national standards has gained momentum, with a bipartisan bill pending in Congress. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had previously recommended 'Best if Used By' labeling. Currently, only infant formula has federally regulated date labels. The FDA estimates that date labels contribute to nearly 20% of national food waste, amounting to approximately 6 million tons of unexpired food discarded annually in California.
Nate Rose, a spokesperson for the California Grocers Association, acknowledged the need for grocers to update labeling systems but expressed overall support, anticipating a win-win scenario of reduced waste and simpler consumer decisions. Shoppers may still encounter older labels as existing inventory is sold.