A California bill that would remove “sell by” dates on food—to cut down on consumers needlessly throwing away otherwise still edible products—is working its way through the legislative process, having recently passed in two committees and is now waiting to be heard by a third, which reviews bills that have fiscal impacts.
Assembly Bill 660, authored by Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) would set new standards by requiring expiration labels to use the phrases “best if used by” and “use by” to communicate peak freshness and food safety, and completely ban the terminology of “sell by” dates, starting January of 2025.
