NewsNBC Bay Area — CaliforniaJuly 1, 2026United States
California Bans 'Sell By' Food Labels to Reduce Waste
California has implemented a new law that bans 'sell by' labels on food packaging to reduce consumer confusion and food waste. Manufacturers must now use standardized 'Best if Used By' or 'Use By' labels to clarify quality versus safety.
Read the full story at NBC Bay Area — CaliforniaWhy It Matters
Starting Wednesday, food manufacturers in California must replace '' labels with standardized language to help residents distinguish between peak food quality and safety, aiming to reduce the 6 million tons of food discarded annually in the state.
Key Facts
- California law bans 'sell by' labels on food packaging effective Wednesday.
- Manufacturers must use 'Best if Used By' for peak quality and 'Use By' for safety.
- Manufacturers may choose to use either or both of the new standardized labels.
- California is the first U.S. state to standardize food labels by law.
- Approximately 6 million tons of unexpired food are discarded in California annually.
- Food waste accounts for nearly 20% of the nation's total food waste due to label confusion.
- There were previously more than 50 different types of date labels on food products.
- Infant formula remains the only food product currently regulated federally regarding date labels.
- New York state has passed similar legislation awaiting gubernatorial signature.
- Legislation is pending in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and South Carolina.
- A bipartisan bill for uniform national food labeling is currently pending in Congress.
Who's Mentioned
personKumar Chandran“Policy director at ReFED.”personNate Rose“Spokesperson for the California Grocers Association.”organizationU.S. Department of Agriculture“Recommended standardized labeling a decade ago.”organizationUniversity of Maryland“Published a 2022 report on food waste.”organizationCalifornia Grocers Association“Industry group representing grocers affected by the labeling change.”personKathy Hochul“Governor of New York, currently considering similar legislation.”organizationCalifornians Against Waste“Co-sponsor of the bill.”personJacqui Irwin“Democratic Assemblymember and author of the bill.”organizationFood and Drug Administration“Provided data on food waste.”personNick Lapis“Director of advocacy at Californians Against Waste.”personKimberley Kausen“A chef and cooking teacher in Irvine, California, who discusses food labeling ha”