California’s new law, which takes effect Wednesday, bans “sell by” dates on most packaged foods sold in the state. Instead, manufacturers are required to use one or both of two standardized label formats: “Use By,” indicating when a product should no longer be consumed for safety reasons, and “Best if Used By,” indicating when a product is at peak quality. The measure is designed to reduce consumer confusion about expiration-related wording, which can lead people to discard food that may still be safe or of acceptable quality.
Multiple outlets report that California Assembly Bill 660 aims to cut food waste by making date labels more consistent and easier for shoppers to interpret. The New York Times and other sources cite broader U.S. estimates that a significant share of food is wasted, including figures attributed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NPR and other reporting also highlight the intended public-benefit rationale: clearer labeling should help consumers decide what to eat and when, reducing unnecessary disposal of edible food. The law changes packaging practices statewide as retailers and producers update their labeling.
