Law effective July 1 targets confusion-driven waste
California began requiring food manufacturers on Wednesday to use only two standardized date labels — “Best if Used By” and “Use By” — and banned the common “sell by” date, a move the state said is meant to cut down on consumer confusion and the food waste that follows.
For years, a patchwork of phrases on food packaging has left shoppers uncertain whether a product is past its peak quality or unsafe to eat. The new law, which took effect July 1, consolidates those labels into two categories: one indicating when a product will be at its best flavor or freshness, and another marking the date after which the product should not be consumed for safety reasons.
Kimberley Kausen, a chef and cooking teacher in Irvine, California, said the variation in labels has long created different interpretations within her own family. Her daughter throws away a milk jug once the date passes. Her husband considers the same milk still drinkable for several more days, Kausen said. She described taking a different approach depending on the food.
“I’ll put some thought into it, and if we’re talking about meat and poultry, I’m very cautious about that and for sure will do the smell test and the touch test,” Kausen said.
The law is designed to give shoppers clearer signals about whether a date refers to quality or safety. Assembly Bill 660, authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, mandates that food manufacturers use “Best if Used By” when labeling peak quality and “Use By” when labeling safety. The “sell by” date, which stores have historically used for stock rotation, is no longer permitted on consumer-facing packaging.
Exemptions apply to eggs and infant formula, which remain subject to separate federal labeling requirements.