SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is set to introduce standardized food date labels next week under a first-in-the-nation law intended to reduce consumer confusion over expiration labels and curb unnecessary food waste. Beginning July 1, food manufacturers, processors and retailers using date labels on most packaged foods sold in the state must adopt uniform wording that distinguishes between product quality and food safety, according to state law and California officials.
The measure, Assembly Bill 660, prohibits the use of consumer-facing "sell by" labels on newly manufactured packaged foods covered by the law. Instead, products displaying a quality date must use "BEST if Used By" or "BEST if Used or Frozen By," while safety dates must use "USE By" or "USE By or Freeze By," according to the legislation. State officials said the law applies to food manufactured on or after July 1, 2026, although some exemptions remain for certain products and labeling situations.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation in 2024 after lawmakers and food-waste advocates argued that the wide variety of date-label phrases used across the food industry had led many consumers to discard food that remained safe to eat. Supporters said more than 50 different labeling terms had been used on packaged foods, contributing to misunderstanding about whether products had actually spoiled.
"Having to wonder whether our food is still good is an issue that we all have struggled with," Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, the bill's author, said when the measure was signed. She described the legislation as "a monumental step to keep money in the pockets of consumers while helping the environment and the planet."
According to the law, "sell by" dates may continue to be used in coded formats not readily readable by consumers for inventory purposes, but they may no longer appear as consumer-facing labels on covered food products. The legislation also states that it does not require foods to carry date labels if none are otherwise required and should not be interpreted as discouraging the sale or donation of food after a quality date has passed.
The changes align with recommendations previously supported by federal food-safety agencies and industry groups to simplify food date labeling. California officials and advocates have said clearer labels could help reduce avoidable household food waste by making it easier for shoppers to distinguish between indicators of product quality and food safety. As of Friday, the law remained on track to take effect on July 1, with manufacturers and retailers expected to comply with the new labeling standards for covered products.
