Story perspectives

California bans “sell-by” labels, saves 2.5 B meals.

7/2/2026

Summary

California Mandates Labels

California enacted Assembly Bill 660 on July 1 2026, requiring “BEST if Used by”/“USE by” labels and banning “sell-by” labels.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture says the rule could save about 2.5 billion meals a year, cutting 48% of landfill waste and 41% of methane emissions.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill in September 2024, making California first state with such labeling, and similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.

Summary

Congress Tackles Labels

A bipartisan bill to create uniform food-date labels is pending in Congress, after a 2022 University of Maryland report identified 50 distinct date labels on packaged foods.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says federal law requires only infant formula to carry a date label.
ReFED policy director Kumar Chandran says confusing labels cause consumers to discard food.

History

Historical Context

President George H.W. Bush signed the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act on November 8 1990, giving the FDA authority to require uniform nutrition facts on most packaged foods. That law built on earlier measures such as the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act and the 1966 Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. California’s 2026 Assembly Bill 660 follows this legacy by mandating “best-if-used-by” dates to cut waste.

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California Mandates Labels

California enacted Assembly Bill 660 on July 1 2026, requiring “BEST if Used by”/“USE by” labels and banning “sell-by” labels.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture says the rule could save about 2.5 billion meals a year, cutting 48% of landfill waste and 41% of methane emissions.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill in September 2024, making California first state with such labeling, and similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.

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