California announces new law banning misunderstood grocery store labels — here’s why other states should do the same

By Susan Elizabeth Turek. Originally published in The Cool Down on November 18, 2024.

FLPC’s Emily Broad Leib was interviewed for this story.

California is ready to say goodbye to a common labeling phrase at the grocery store that causes residents to waste major money amid confusion about food safety. 

As detailed by the nonprofit Food Tank, shoppers in the Golden State will stop seeing “sell by” dates on food items after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 660 in September. 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “sell by” dates are part of an inventory management system. However, it’s common for people to confuse this label with other designations intended to communicate peak freshness or quality, with ReFED estimating that labeling inconsistencies lead to 7% of wasted food. 

All in all, the labeling confusion costs Californians billions, with the average American household spending around $1,300 on uneaten food annually, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. 

Read the full article.