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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.
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Associated Press News+30 Reposted by 30 other sources
California bans 'sell by' food labels to cut food waste and confusion
California is making food labels less confusing by banning "sell by" dates. The new law starting Wednesday requires manufacturers to use just two labels: "Best if Used By" for peak quality and "Use By" for safety.
·New York, United States
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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…
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Total News Sources33
Leaning Left19Leaning Right2Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution61% Left
Bias Distribution
- 61% of the sources lean Left
61% Left
L 61%
C 32%
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