Entering a supermarket, the plethora of “sell by,” “best by,” and “use by” dates on food packaging often leaves people puzzled. To prevent wasting food due to label confusion, a new labeling law in California officially took effect on July 1st, becoming the first state in the United States to comprehensively implement “food label standardization.”
According to data from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), Californians discard as many as 2.5 billion portions of perfectly good food each year. These organic wastes generate a significant amount of methane when decomposed in landfills, accounting for 41% of California’s greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental organizations point out that over 50 different date labeling phrases have appeared on the market, leading to consumer confusion and premature food disposal.
What do these common labels actually mean for consumers? And what changes are there after the new law takes effect?
The federal government has very limited requirements for labeling expiration dates on products to ensure safety. Manufacturers typically choose terms to describe the expected product “quality,” rather than safety.
The “sell by” date indicates how long retailers should display the product on shelves and is most commonly found on highly perishable items like fresh meat and milk. After the “sell by” date, the food is usually still safe to eat, and some retailers may offer discounts close to that date.
The “best by” date signifies when a product may retain its peak flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. After this date, the food may still be edible, but the taste or quality may diminish.
Similar to the “best if used by” date, this recommended date indicates when the product should be consumed for the highest quality. After this date, the product may still be safe to eat, but the taste may not be as fresh.
This date informs consumers of when to freeze the product to maintain its highest quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
To end the confusion, the new law in California imposes mandatory regulations on food labels produced on or after July 1, 2026:
As many consumers mistake “sell by” as an expiration date and directly dispose of the product, the new law prohibits the use of this term on “consumer-facing” packaging. However, manufacturers can still use concealed coded dates for internal inventory management by retailers.
The new law strictly limits labeling to two phrases: “best if used by” for quality purposes and “use by” for safety. However, there are two exceptions – infant formula and eggs, which will continue to adhere to federal or state label regulations.
The new law carries substantial legal obligations. Failure to amend labels as required will result in manufacturers and retailers sharing compliance risks, with a maximum penalty of $1,000 per violation and the possibility of license revocation. Since the law allows for the continued sale of old inventory produced before July 1st, consumers will see transitional old labels on supermarket shelves in the coming months.
As most food dates are related to quality rather than safety, they are not reliable standards for determining when to discard food. Observing signs of spoilage, such as unusual odor, texture, or mold, is a better indicator of whether food is safe to eat.
Generally, most unopened packaged foods can still be safely consumed beyond their recommended date if stored properly and showing no signs of spoilage. However, if canned food containers are dented, swollen, or damaged, even canned food can become unsafe.
Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires infant formula to be labeled with a “use by” date to ensure its nutritional quality and safety. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also mandates packing dates on poultry and processed products to identify batches.
While the quality of perishable foods may decline after the product date, they are still healthy and safe to consume if no signs of spoilage are present. Therefore, they can be considered for donation to food banks and consumers rather than being needlessly discarded.
(Adapted from a report by “USA Today”)