On September 28, California made history by becoming the first state to ban “sell-by” dates as Governor Gavin Newsom signed new legislation aimed at reducing food waste. The law, set to take effect on July 1, 2026, prohibits consumer-facing sell-by dates and mandates standardized language for food labeling. Under this new law, all food products with a date label—except for infant formula, eggs, beer, and malt beverages—must use the phrases “Best if Used By” for peak quality and “Use By” for safety. This legislation, known as Assembly Bill No. 660, aims to save consumers money and address climate change by minimizing food waste.
Currently, there are no federal requirements governing food date labels outside of baby formula, leading to various confusing terms such as “display until” and “best before.” This inconsistency often misleads consumers, causing them to discard perfectly edible food. Notably, sell-by dates serve primarily to inform store employees when to rotate stock rather than indicating actual freshness. With this new law, California hopes to clarify date labeling and encourage more responsible consumption practices among shoppers.