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A new law in California will clarify 'sell by' dates to reduce food waste
NPR • • business
Key Points:
- California has passed a new law to reduce food waste by standardizing food labeling with only two clear terms: "use by" and "best if used by," replacing confusing labels like "sell by."
- The "sell by" date, previously used primarily for retailers, often led consumers to discard food prematurely, contributing to an estimated 6 million tons of food waste annually in California.
- The law mandates consistent use of "use by" to indicate when food should be discarded for safety and "best if used by" to denote peak quality, helping consumers better understand food freshness.
- Experts advise consumers to rely on sensory checks such as smelling and inspecting food for signs of spoilage rather than solely trusting date labels.
- This initiative follows recommendations from the Department of Agriculture a decade ago and aims to save money and reduce unnecessary food disposal by clarifying expiration information.
