Starting July 1, California will require grocery products to display just two date labels—"BEST if Used By" and "USE By"—to end confusion and reduce billions of pounds of edible food waste each year.
- Only two date labels: quality and safety
- Bill effective statewide starting July 1
- Expected to reduce billions of pounds of wasted food
What happened
California has introduced Assembly Bill 660, a law set to take effect on July 1 that standardizes food date labeling across the state. Instead of confusing shoppers with over 50 different terms like "sell by" or "enjoy by," manufacturers will now only use two labels on most human food products: "BEST if Used By," indicating peak freshness and quality, and "USE By," which signals a food safety deadline.
This change means companies shipping food to California must update their packaging, aiming to make it easier for consumers to understand when food is still good to eat versus when it might be unsafe. Eggs and infant formula are exceptions to this new labeling requirement.
Why it feels good
The updated labeling system is expected to reduce confusion that leads many people to throw out perfectly edible food just because of vague or misunderstood dates. Reducing food waste helps families save money, decreases pressure on waste management systems, and lessens the environmental toll associated with producing wasted food such as water usage and carbon emissions.
By focusing on clear, easy-to-understand labels, California is addressing a major contributor to the 10% of all U.S. food waste caused by date label confusion. Consumers can finally feel more confident about what they keep or toss, helping homes across the state waste less food and reduce their impact on the planet.
What to enjoy or watch next
California’s new labeling law may set a powerful example for other states to follow, especially since it covers one of the largest consumer markets in the country. Food manufacturers could find it more efficient to adopt these simplified labels nationally rather than managing different labeling standards by state.
As this initiative rolls out, shoppers might also explore other efforts to reduce food waste at home, such as better meal planning and using apps to track freshness. Over time, clearer labels and smarter shopping habits together could make a big dent in the millions of tons of food wasted every year.