San Francisco — California has become the first U.S. state to standardize food date labels, introducing new rules designed to reduce unnecessary food waste and help consumers better understand when products are safe to eat.
The law, which took effect Wednesday, eliminates the use of the commonly misunderstood “Sell By” label on food packaging. Instead, manufacturers selling products in California must use standardized terms that clearly distinguish between food quality and food safety.
Under the new requirements, companies may use “Best if Used By” to indicate when a product is likely to maintain its highest quality, while “Use By” is reserved for foods that have a safety-related expiration date.
Addressing Consumer Confusion
For years, shoppers have struggled to interpret a wide variety of date labels found on grocery products. Many consumers mistakenly believe a “Sell By” date indicates that food has expired, even though the label was originally intended to help retailers manage inventory rather than guide consumer safety.
As a result, large amounts of perfectly edible food are discarded long before they become unsafe to consume.
Experts say the lack of consistent labeling has contributed significantly to household food waste across the United States.
New Law Aims to Cut Food Waste
California lawmakers approved the legislation in 2024 as part of broader efforts to reduce food waste and lower greenhouse gas emissions linked to discarded food.
Supporters of the measure argue that replacing multiple confusing labels with a simple, uniform system will make shopping decisions easier while encouraging households to waste less food.
Manufacturers have the option to use either of the two approved labels—or both—depending on the product.
Millions of Tons of Food Thrown Away Each Year
According to food waste experts, confusing expiration labels are one of the leading reasons consumers throw away edible food.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates that misunderstanding date labels contributes to nearly one-fifth of food waste nationwide. In California alone, roughly six million tons of edible food are discarded annually despite remaining safe for consumption.
Food banks have also faced challenges because donated products labeled with “Sell By” dates are often mistakenly viewed as expired, reducing the amount of food available for people in need.
Momentum Builds for National Standards
California’s move is expected to influence other states considering similar reforms.
New York lawmakers have already approved comparable legislation, while proposals have also been introduced in several other states, including Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and South Carolina.
At the federal level, bipartisan lawmakers are considering legislation that would establish a nationwide standard for food date labeling. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has previously encouraged manufacturers to adopt the “Best if Used By” label as the preferred quality indicator.
Currently, infant formula remains the only food product in the United States with federally regulated expiration labeling requirements.
Grocery Industry Supports the Change
California grocery retailers have generally welcomed the transition, although some businesses have updated inventory systems and labeling processes to comply with the new law.
Consumers are expected to continue seeing older labels on store shelves for several months as retailers sell existing inventory packaged before the regulation took effect.
Supporters believe the standardized labeling system will help shoppers make more informed decisions, reduce unnecessary food waste, and simplify grocery shopping for millions of Californians.
