- California has implemented a new food labeling law, effective July 1, to combat significant household food waste caused by confusing date stamps.
- The legislation bans the use of "sell by" labels, which are primarily for retailers, and mandates manufacturers to adopt either "Best if Used By" for peak quality or "Use By" to indicate product safety.
- Democratic Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, the bill's author, said manufacturers retain the choice to use either or both standardized labels, aiming to clarify product freshness for consumers.
- This initiative makes California the first U.S. state to standardize food labels, with New York state lawmakers also approving similar legislation, building momentum for a potential national standard.
- Experts emphasize that ambiguous labeling contributes to nearly 20% of the nation's food waste, with California alone discarding approximately 6 million tons of unexpired food annually due to consumer confusion.
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