California’s New Law Regarding Food Expiration Labels

California’s New Law Regarding Food Expiration Labels: What You Need to Know

A Guide to Deciphering Food Labels and Reducing Waste

Knowing whether your food is still good can be a challenging task. With the rise of "sell by" and "best before" labels, it’s easy to get confused about what these terms mean and how they can affect the safety of your food. In this article, we’ll explore California’s new law regarding food expiration labels and provide you with a guide to understanding these labels, as well as tips on how to reduce food waste.

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The Background: A Problem Worth Solving

Food waste is a significant issue worldwide, with the United Nations reporting that about 17% of the food produced each year is tossed. In the United States alone, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration estimates that 30% to 40% of food goes uneaten, with confusion over food labeling accounting for 20% of that waste. The state of California has taken a step towards solving this problem by passing a law that requires "Best if Used By" and "Use By" labels on products sold in the state.

What does the New Law Mean for California?

California’s new law, set to take effect in July 2026, will require products sold in the state to display a "Best if Used By" label, indicating the product’s peak quality, and a "Use By" label, signaling product safety. The law does not apply to eggs, beer, and other malt beverages. While this law may seem simple, it’s a significant step towards reducing food waste and making it easier for consumers to understand what they’re buying.

What About the Rest of Us?

For those who don’t live in California, the old labels will still be in use, but some California lawmakers hope that the state’s new law will encourage other states or the federal government to follow suit. In the meantime, here are a few tips to help clear up some of the confusion:

• **"Sell by" dates on packages have nothing to do with us, as consumers. They’re for stores, acting as a guide to alert them when to pull the items off their shelves, and they don’t mean the food is unsafe to consume.
• **"Use by" dates refer to quality, not safety, even though the USDA recommends using products by the "use by" date.
• **If the food has a "sell by" date, as many meats do, it can probably be safely used for a short time past that date. For example, ground meat and poultry are probably still okay to eat 1 to 2 days past the "sell by" date, and cuts of beef (not ground) might still be good up to 5 days past the date. Eggs have a longer life and might be able to go as long as 5 weeks past the "sell by" date.
• **Certain shelf-stable foods, like canned beans and packages of oats, may be able to go well past the "use by" date, especially if they’ve been properly stored in a cool, dry place.

The Bottom Line

California’s new law is a significant step towards reducing food waste and making it easier for consumers to understand what they’re buying. By understanding what the "sell by" and "use by" dates mean and how to use them, you can make more informed decisions about the food you buy. Remember, the "sell by" date is primarily for stores, and the "use by" date isn’t necessarily a hard and fast rule, since it has more to do with quality than safety. When in doubt, trust your senses – if it smells rank or rancid or looks off, it’s best to err on the side of caution and toss it.

FAQs

Q: What does the new law mean for California consumers?
A: California’s new law will require products sold in the state to display a "Best if Used By" label, indicating the product’s peak quality, and a "Use By" label, signaling product safety.

Q: Does the law apply to eggs, beer, and other malt beverages?
A: No, the law does not apply to eggs, beer, and other malt beverages.

Q: What happens if I buy a product with a "sell by" date, but it’s past the date?
A: You can probably still use the product for a short time past the "sell by" date, depending on the type of product.

Q: What about shelf-stable foods, like canned beans and oats?
A: These products may be able to go well past the "use by" date, especially if they’ve been properly stored in a cool, dry place.