A new California law replaces confusing food date labels with a simpler system designed to save families money and reduce billions of pounds of food waste.
California has officially banned one of the most misunderstood phrases found on grocery store packaging: “sell-by.”
Under Assembly Bill 660, food manufacturers and retailers must move toward a standardized labeling system that replaces a patchwork of confusing date labels with two simple terms: “BEST if Used by” and “USE by.”
For millions of California families facing high grocery bills, the change could mean fewer trips to the trash can and more money staying in household budgets.
State lawmakers say the goal is straightforward: reduce unnecessary food waste caused by widespread confusion over what package dates actually mean.
The law arrives as Californians continue to struggle with some of the nation’s highest living costs, making food affordability an increasingly important issue for families throughout Los Angeles County and across the state.
What Is Changing?
For years, consumers encountered dozens of different labels on food products:
- Sell By
- Best Before
- Expires On
- Enjoy By
- Fresh Until
- Use Before
Most of these dates were never intended to indicate food safety.
Instead, many were created for inventory management, shipping schedules, or product quality purposes.
Under California’s new standardized system, consumers will primarily see:
“BEST if Used by”
This date refers to quality.
Food may lose flavor, texture, or freshness after this date, but it is not necessarily unsafe to eat.
“USE by”
This date refers to safety.
Consumers should follow this date for products where food safety becomes a concern.
The distinction may seem simple, but researchers say it addresses one of the largest causes of household food waste.
Studies consistently show Americans misunderstand food date labels.
According to research from ReFED, the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, confusion surrounding food labels remains widespread.
One national survey found:
- 88% of adults report throwing away food near or past a package date at least occasionally.
- 43% say they usually or always discard food based solely on the printed date.
- While 87% believe they understand food labels, only about half correctly interpret them.
The result is a significant amount of perfectly edible food ending up in landfills.
Researchers estimate the average American household loses roughly $1,500 annually because of food waste.
For many California families already dealing with high housing costs, utility bills, and transportation expenses, that is money that could otherwise go toward rent, savings, or childcare.
Los Angeles County has one of the largest populations in the nation and some of the highest living costs.
Many families carefully manage grocery budgets every week.
Throwing away food that is still safe to consume creates hidden costs that often go unnoticed.
The new law could be particularly valuable for:
- Large families
- Multigenerational households
- Seniors on fixed incomes
- College students
- Working families facing inflation pressures
Consumer advocates argue that better labeling can help households stretch food budgets while reducing waste.
The Environmental Impact Is Massive
Food waste is not just a household budget issue.
It is also an environmental challenge.
The United States discards nearly 40 million tons of food annually.
When food decomposes in landfills, it generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Reducing unnecessary food disposal can help California meet climate goals while also conserving the water, energy, labor, and transportation resources used to produce food.
That connection between consumer behavior and environmental outcomes helped drive support for AB 660.
What Changed?
California banned confusing “sell-by” labels and moved toward standardized food date labels.
What Labels Will Consumers See?
- BEST if Used by = Quality
- USE by = Safety
Why Did California Make the Change?
Research shows widespread confusion causes families to throw away safe food.
How Could Families Benefit?
Less food waste could translate into lower household grocery losses and better food budgeting.
California’s action could influence other states and food manufacturers nationwide.
Because many food companies distribute products across multiple states, industry experts expect standardized labels to become more common beyond California.
For consumers, the biggest takeaway is simple:
A date on a package does not automatically mean food must be thrown away.
Understanding the difference between quality and safety could save families money while reducing waste.
As food prices remain a major concern across California, lawmakers hope AB 660 helps consumers make smarter decisions and keep more food on the table instead of in the trash.
