California bans 'sell by' food labels and standardizes date wording

California began enforcing a new food-date labeling law on July 1, replacing a patchwork of package-date phrases with two standardized terms meant to be easier for shoppers to understand.

The law bans consumer-facing "sell by" labels on packaged foods sold in California. Manufacturers that use date labels will instead have to use standardized wording, including "Best if Used By" for peak quality and "Use By" for food safety.

The change is intended to reduce confusion over what date labels actually mean. Food waste advocates have long argued that many shoppers treat these dates as hard expiration deadlines, even when a product is still safe or still good to eat.

California is the first U.S. state to ban "sell by" labels for consumers, according to the Associated Press. AP identified Democratic Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin as the bill's sponsor.

The new rules matter for several groups at once. Consumers may be less likely to throw away edible food. Manufacturers and retailers now have to make sure package labeling complies with the California standard as older packaging cycles out of stores.

The policy also fits into a broader effort to cut household food waste and the environmental costs that come with it. Coverage of the new law noted that the market has used more than 50 different date-label phrases, adding to the confusion the state is trying to solve.

What happens next will depend on how quickly retailers and manufacturers update packaging and whether state agencies issue additional guidance for compliance and consumer education. Advocates will also be watching to see whether other states follow California's lead.