California bans 'sell by' food labels to cut food waste

- California has banned "sell by" and "best by" date labels on most packaged foods, replacing them with standardized terms: "Best If Used By" (for quality) and "Use By" (for safety). The change takes effect in 2026 for most products. - The old system was a patchwork of manufacturer-chosen phrases that confused consumers, leading many to throw away food that was still safe to eat. The AP reports this confusion is a major driver of the estimated 40 million tons of food Americans waste each year. - Food labeling is regulated at the federal level by the FDA, but states can set their own rules. California, as the largest U.S. state economy, often sets de facto national standards because manufacturers rarely produce separate labels just for one state. - This is not a ban on selling food past a date; it is a ban on the *phrase* "sell by" and similar confusing terms, to standardize the language shoppers actually see.