New California law ditches dozens of common food labels—and it could save shoppers money

A major change is now taking effect on grocery store shelves across California, and it could affect how millions of shoppers decide whether to keep or toss their food.

Beginning July 1, California became the first state in the nation to standardize date labels on most packaged foods, replacing more than 50 different phrases—including “sell by,” “best before,” and “expires on”—with a simplified system designed to reduce confusion and curb food waste.

Supporters say the change could help consumers save money while preventing millions of pounds of edible food from ending up in landfills.

Only two date labels will remain

Under Assembly Bill 660, food manufacturers selling most packaged foods in California must now use standardized language if they choose to include a date label. Products intended to indicate peak freshness must display “Best if Used By” or “Best if Frozen By,” while foods with a safety-related date must use “Use By” or “Use By or Freeze By.”

Consumer-facing “sell by” labels are no longer allowed, though coded inventory dates may still be used by retailers. Eggs and infant formula are exempt from the new requirements.

Aiming to reduce food waste

Lawmakers say the new system addresses a long-standing source of consumer confusion. Because date labels have not been federally standardized, shoppers have often mistaken quality dates for food safety warnings, throwing away food that was still safe to eat.

According to supporters of the law, confusion over date labels contributes to food waste in the United States. California alone discards an estimated 6 million tons of food each year, much of it still edible. Reducing unnecessary waste could also help lower household grocery costs while decreasing methane emissions generated by food decomposing in landfills.

California’s new law could also influence other states. New York has already approved similar legislation, and several others are considering comparable measures, raising the possibility that standardized food date labels could eventually become the norm across the country.

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