A new California law took effect on July 1, 2026, banning the use of “sell by” food labels as part of a statewide initiative to reduce food waste. Under the law, food manufacturers must now use one or both of two standardized labels: “best if used by” to indicate peak quality and “use by” to indicate product safety.

California state Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D), who authored the law, stated on social platform X that “using clear, consistent date labels will help reduce confusion about when food is safe to eat, cut down on unnecessary food waste, and make it easier for consumers to make informed decisions.” She added that the change will bring meaningful benefits to families, businesses, and the environment.

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery reported that 2.5 billion meals worth of unspoiled food are discarded annually in the state. Experts note that the lack of national standards for food label language has contributed to consumer confusion. Emily Broad Leib, director of the Harvard Law School Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, told the Los Angeles Times that while food labels have long been used to classify freshness, there is no uniform national terminology, leading many consumers to mistakenly interpret date labels as safety indicators.

Kumar Chandran, policy director at ReFED, a nonprofit focused on reducing food waste, said, “Consumers get confused and they just default to assuming that whatever date is on the package means ‘don’t eat it and throw it away.'”

California was the first state to standardize food labels in 2024 under Democratic leadership, setting a precedent for clearer food labeling practices.

Sources

  • The Hill
  • Los Angeles Times (via The Hill)