Governor Gavin Newsom of California has signed legislation that he says will reduce food waste as well as California’s climate warming issues. The bill will make them the first state in America to ban “sell by” and “best before” dates on food items.
Jacqui Irwin who created the bill released a statement on her decision, “Having to wonder whether our food is still good is an issue that we all have struggled with, [the law] is a monumental step to keep money in the pockets of consumers while helping the environment and the planet…I am grateful for the Governor’s signature of this first-in-the-nation bill to end the consumer confusion around expiration date labels that so many of us have experienced.”
Legally speaking these have no true meaning when it comes to the sale of food. In addition to that, according to the FDA, roughly 20% of the United States food waste is due to these confusing tags.
This will go into effect in July of 2026 when they will begin to use a “Best if Used By” label for peak quality and a “Use By” label for the safety of the consumer. It is expected that several other states will follow suit after the law is fully introduced.
