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California Bans ‘Sell By’ Labels, Hoping to Cut Food Waste
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- California has banned “sell by” labels on perishable products as of July 1, 2024, under a new food labeling law aimed at reducing consumer confusion and food waste.
- The law standardizes date labels, allowing only terms like “best if used by,” “best if frozen by,” “use by,” and “freeze by” to indicate food quality and safety, excluding eggs and infant formula.
- The bill responds to the problem of food waste caused by consumers discarding food based on unclear or misleading date labels, with the USDA noting that dates often do not indicate safety.
- “Sell by” dates can still appear on products but must be coded for retailer use only, and a grace period allows existing inventory to be sold before the new rules fully take effect.
- The legislation has sparked similar efforts in other states like New York, though it faced opposition from agriculture groups concerned about interstate business challenges.
