SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 3 (Our California Times) — California’s new food date-label law is now in effect, requiring standardized phrases on packaged foods sold in the state and ending consumer-facing ‘sell by’ labels on most products, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Under Assembly Bill 660, the only approved quality-date phrases are “BEST if Used by” and “BEST if Used or Frozen by.” Safety dates must read “USE by” or “USE by or Freeze by,” the department said.
The rules apply to food items for human consumption in California that are manufactured on or after July 1, 2026. CDFA said consumer-facing “sell by” dates are no longer allowed, although coded dates used for retailer stock rotation can still appear on packaging.
The department said the change is meant to cut down on food waste caused by shoppers mistaking date labels for hard expiration deadlines. CDFA said confusion over “sell by” dates has led to the disposal of “wholesome, nutritious food.”
CDFA said the sale prohibition does not apply to eggs or infant formula.
