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California bans 'sell by' food labels to cut food waste and confusion
ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos • • business
Key Points:
- California has enacted a new food labeling law banning "sell by" labels and requiring standardized labels: "Best if Used By" for peak quality and "Use By" for product safety, aiming to reduce consumer confusion and food waste.
- The law, effective Wednesday, is the first of its kind in the U.S. and seeks to address the issue of nearly 6 million tons of unexpired food wasted annually in California due to unclear date labels.
- Similar legislation has been passed in New York and proposed in several other states, while a bipartisan bill for national standardization is pending in Congress.
- Experts and advocacy groups highlight that inconsistent and unregulated date labels cause consumers to discard food prematurely, contributing to nearly 20% of national food waste.
- The California Grocers Association supports the change despite some logistical adjustments, anticipating that clearer labels will simplify consumer decisions and reduce waste.
