California Bans 'Sell By' Labels: A Step Towards Reducing Food Waste
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has implemented a new law banning the use of "sell by" labels on packaged food items. Instead, food producers and retailers must use standardized date labels like "best if used by" or "use by" to reduce confusion and food waste. The law exempts eggs and infant formula from these requirements.
Assembly Bill 660, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2024, aims to address consumer confusion caused by the multitude of date labels used on food packaging. Many shoppers mistake "sell by" dates for expiration dates, leading to unnecessary food waste. The state's Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery reports that billions of meals of unspoiled food are discarded annually in California, contributing significantly to landfill waste and methane emissions.
The Department of Food and Agriculture emphasizes that reducing food waste is crucial for food banks and Californians' budgets. Retailers can still use coded inventory dates for stock rotation purposes and sell products produced before July 1 that do not comply with the new labeling law. Governor Newsom's action may influence labeling practices in other states, as manufacturers often use uniform packaging nationwide.
While federal agencies have long recommended standardized food date labeling, only infant formula is federally regulated in this regard. States like New York have similar legislation pending, and other states have proposed bills addressing food labeling. Efforts to establish a national standard for food date labeling have been introduced in Congress, highlighting the importance of reducing food waste and consumer confusion.