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California bans 'sell by' dates, standardizes food labels to reduce confusion and waste

Olga R. Rodriguez

5d ago· 4 min readenNews

food news

Summary

California has become the first U.S. state to ban "sell by" dates on food labels, replacing them with standardized "Best if Used By" (for peak quality) and "Use By" (for safety) labels. The law, effective Wednesday, aims to reduce consumer confusion that leads to significant food waste — nearly 20% of food is wasted due to unclear labeling. New York has followed with similar legislation, and other states are considering it. The article features perspectives from a chef, a food waste researcher, and industry representatives, highlighting how the change could help households save money and reduce environmental impact.

Source

bskyCalifornia bans 'sell by' dates, standardizes food labels to reduce confusion and wasteapnews.com

Key quotes

· 3 pulled

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.

It's a simple change that can have a huge impact on reducing food waste in our country.

The confusion over labels has led to significant food waste, with nearly 20% of food wasted because of unclear labeling.

Snippet from the RSS feed

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. This change aims to reduce food waste and

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