Why California Is Banning ‘Sell By’ Labels—What It Means for Shoppers
Summary
California will ban the use of "sell by" and similar unclear date labels on food starting July 1 under Assembly Bill 660. Instead, food products sold in the state must use only two clear labels: "Best if used by" for quality and "Use by" for safety, aiming to reduce confusion, food waste, and help consumers save money.Key Facts
- The new law starts on July 1 and applies only to food made on or after that date.
- Only two date labels are allowed: "Best if used by" (or "BB") for quality, and "Use by" (or "UB") for safety.
- "Sell by," "Expires on," and other non-standard phrases will not be permitted.
- The law does not require all foods to have date labels, only regulates the wording if they appear.
- Certain products like infant formula, eggs, alcohol, and shellfish are excluded because they have separate rules.
- The bill was authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and received bipartisan support.
- California residents discard about six million tons of food annually, partly due to label confusion.
- Food waste in landfills produces methane gas, a harmful contributor to climate change.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.