{"id":2622143,"date":"2026-07-01T11:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T15:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-elimination-of-sell-by-dates-on-groceries-to-limit-food-waste-goes-into-effect\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T11:25:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T15:25:33","slug":"california-elimination-of-sell-by-dates-on-groceries-to-limit-food-waste-goes-into-effect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-elimination-of-sell-by-dates-on-groceries-to-limit-food-waste-goes-into-effect\/","title":{"rendered":"California elimination of \u2018sell by\u2019 dates on groceries to limit food waste goes into effect"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-elimination-of-sell-by-dates-on-groceries-to-limit-food-waste-goes-into-effect%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2622143&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>California&#8217;s Department of Food adn Agriculture is implementing a new law, Assembly Bill 660, which bans teh use of \u201csell by\u201d date labels on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/does-diet-soda-increase-stroke-risk-as-much-as-regular-soda\/\" title=\"Does Diet Soda Increase Stroke Risk as Much as Regular Soda?\">packaged food products<\/a>, aiming to reduce consumer confusion and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-chris-cuomo-says-americans-are-literally-starving-without-300-unemployment-benefits\/\" title=\"Fact Check: Chris Cuomo Says Americans Are \u2018Literally Starving\u2019 Without 0 Unemployment Benefits\">food waste<\/a>. Starting Wednesday, food producers and retailers must replace \u201csell by\u201d labels wiht more standardized terms such as \u201cbest if used by,\u201d \u201cbest if frozen by,\u201d \u201cuse by,\u201d or \u201cfreeze by,\u201d depending on safety or quality considerations. Eggs and infant formula are exempt from these requirements. the law was signed in 2024 by governor Gavin Newsom and addresses the widespread use of over 50 different date labels, which ofen lead consumers to discard still-safe food, contributing to an estimated 2.5 billion meals wasted annually in California,with important environmental and economic impacts. Retailers can still use coded dates for inventory purposes, and products produced before July 1 can be sold through. The legislation could influence othre states, as similar proposals are under consideration nationally. While federal agencies have long recommended standardized labeling, only infant formula is currently federally regulated for date labels.The move seeks to mitigate food waste and its associated environmental footprint while aiding consumers in understanding food safety.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California<\/a> Department of Food and Agriculture will ban <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/food\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"595\">food<\/a> manufacturers\u2019 use of \u201csell by\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/food-labels\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3468\">labels<\/a> on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/grocery-stores\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2447\">grocery<\/a> items, replacing the long-used phrase with standardized date labels aimed at reducing confusion and cutting food waste.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food producers and retailers selling packaged food may no longer use \u201csell by\u201d dates on labels visible to consumers, starting Wednesday. Instead, products labeled for quality must either use \u201cbest if used by\u201d or \u201cbest if frozen by,\u201d while products carrying safety-related dates must use \u201cuse by\u201d or \u201cfreeze by.\u201d Eggs and infant formula are exempt from the law\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4622508\/camp-mystic-bankruptcy-deadly-2025-flood\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Camp Mystic files for bankruptcy after deadly 2025 flood<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4619079\/brands-creative-circumvent-fifa-sponsorship-world-cup\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Brands get creative to circumvent FIFA\u2019s strict sponsorship rules during the World Cup<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4619123\/no-more-blue-brown-mms-unveils-dye-free-candy-rfk-jr-push\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>No more blue or brown for now: M&#038;M\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brands-get-creative-to-circumvent-fifas-strict-sponsorship-rules\/\" title=\"Brands get creative to circumvent FIFA&#039;s strict sponsorship rules\">unveils dye-free candy<\/a> after RFK Jr. push<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The measure, Assembly Bill 660, was signed into law by Gov.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1426\"> Gavin Newsom<\/a> (D-CA) in 2024 after lawmakers argued the variety of food date labels had become a major source of consumer confusion. More than 50 different phrases, including \u201csell by,\u201d \u201cbest before,\u201d and \u201cfreshest by,\u201d have been used on food packaging despite having no uniform national standing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Supporters say many shoppers mistakenly interpret \u201csell by\u201d dates as expiration dates, even though the label was originally intended to help retailers manage inventory rather than indicate food safety. The misunderstanding contributes to households discarding food that is safe to eat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the state\u2019s Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery, about 2.5 billion meals of unspoiled food are thrown out each year, making up about 48% of the waste in the Golden State\u2019s landfills. Additionally, food waste decomposing in landfills accounts for 41% of the state\u2019s methane emissions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Department of Food and Agriculture said the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >mass food waste hurts food banks<\/a> and \u201cimpacts Californians\u2019 wallets by throwing good food away too soon.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Retailers may continue to use coded inventory dates that are visible or easily understood by consumers  for stock rotation purposes. The law also allows manufacturers and stores to sell through products produced before July 1 that do not yet comply with the new labeling law.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4632141\/eagle-cup-dunkin-america-250\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4632141\/eagle-cup-dunkin-america-250\/\">DUNKIN\u2019 CELEBRATES AMERICA 250 WITH LIMITED-EDITION EAGLE CUP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Newsom is the first governor to sign such legislation into law, but the move could influence labeling practices in other states because manufacturers often use uniform packaging nationwide. Similar legislation has been approved by the New York legislature and awaits action from Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY). Lawmakers in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and South Carolina have also proposed legislation addressing food labeling, but it has not passed thus far.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Federal agencies have recommended standardized food date labeling for years, and legislation to establish a national standard has been introduced in Congress. The only product regulated federally with date labels is infant formula.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California bans &#8220;sell by&#8221; labels to reduce confusion and waste<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2622144,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ap22269668615684.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[82039,4045,36279,78691,82038],"class_list":["post-2622143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-sell-by-dates","tag-california","tag-environmental-policy","tag-food-waste","tag-grocery-regulations"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ap22269668615684.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2622143"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622143\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2622147,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622143\/revisions\/2622147"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2622144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2622143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2622143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2622143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}