California food labels can no longer include “sell by” dates after a new law went into effect yesterday. Food producers can instead add “best if used by” dates (indicating peak product quality) or “use by” dates (indicating safety). See fine print.
The law aims to reduce confusion. More than 80% of Americans discard unspoiled food due to label misunderstandings, a 2019 survey found. One-third of respondents falsely believe the dates are federally regulated (the exception is infant formula, after the removal of salt in the 1970s led to at least 118 cases of Bartter syndrome).
Nearly 20% of American food waste is due to label confusion, the FDA says. In California, more than 6 million tons of unspoiled food per year ends up in landfills, where organic waste releases more than 40% of the state’s methane emissions, per climate advocates.
California’s laws can have nationwide implications, as companies streamline their products for compliance. See how a toxic chemical law impacted Californians and non-Californians
