Food products sold in California will no longer have a “sell by” stamp after July 1, 2026, after Gov. Gavin Newsom approved the nation’s first law governing food labeling.
When it goes into effect, Assembly Bill 660 will require the use of two standard terms for food products that choose to use a date label—“best if used by” to indicate the quality date of food, or “use by” to indicate the safety of food.
Newsom said in a statement he also believed the new law, which he signed on Sept. 28, would better inform consumers and “significantly reduce food waste.”
Stamping food with quality or time limits is not required as part of the law. The federal government also doesn’t require foods to be issued a “use by” date on anything except baby formula….