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California bans ‘sell by’ labels to cut food waste and confusion
CNN • • business
Key Points:
- California has implemented a new food labeling law banning "sell by" labels, replacing them with standardized "Best if Used By" for quality and "Use By" for safety to reduce consumer confusion and food waste.
- The law, effective in 2024, aims to cut down on millions of tons of edible food being discarded annually due to unclear date labels, which are a leading cause of household food waste.
- California is the first U.S. state to standardize food labels, with New York passing similar legislation and other states considering related bills, while a bipartisan federal bill is pending to establish uniform labeling nationwide.
- Food manufacturers can choose to use either or both new labels, simplifying decisions for consumers and helping food banks, which have struggled with the misinterpretation of "sell by" dates.
- Grocery associations support the change despite some logistical adjustments, and the transition period means old labels will remain in stores for some time as existing stock is sold.
