A landmark bill aimed at reducing food waste and eliminating consumer confusion has been passed in New York State. Known as the Food Date Labeling Act, the legislation proposes limiting the variety of date-related terms used on food packaging and replacing them with just two standardized labels: “Best if Used By” and “Use By.”
The bill is now awaiting approval from New York Governor Kathy Hochul. If signed into law, New York will adopt a new standard for food labeling that is expected to play a significant role in increasing consumer awareness and reducing food waste.
Currently, food products carry a variety of date labels, including “Sell By,” “Best Before,” “Expires On,” and “Enjoy By.” These different terms often create confusion among consumers. As a result, many people discard food once the printed date has passed, even though in many cases the product remains safe to consume.
According to experts, this confusion leads to the unnecessary disposal of large amounts of food every year. This not only causes financial losses for families but also contributes to food waste and environmental pollution. When discarded food decomposes in landfills, it releases methane gas, which is highly harmful to the climate.
Under the proposed law, the label “Best if Used By” will indicate the period during which a food product is expected to maintain its optimal quality, flavor, and freshness. In many cases, food may still be safe to consume after that date, although its quality may gradually decline. In contrast, the “Use By” label will be reserved for products where health and safety considerations are critical. In such cases, it is considered unsafe to consume the product after the specified date.
One of the bill’s sponsors, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey, said that confusing labeling practices have long led consumers to make incorrect decisions. According to her, many perfectly good food products are discarded simply because of misunderstandings related to date labels, resulting in significant economic and environmental losses.
The initiative has been welcomed by food rescue and hunger-relief organization City Harvest. The organization noted that enormous quantities of food are turned into waste each year due to misleading date labels, despite the fact that much of it could have been distributed to people in need.
Environmental advocates emphasize that food waste is not only an economic issue but also a major climate concern. A significant portion of food produced in the United States ultimately goes to waste, and as it decomposes, it contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
The new law does not require all food products to display date labels. However, any manufacturer that chooses to use date labeling must follow these two standardized terms. Policymakers hope that this approach will provide consumers with clearer information, reduce food waste, and help families save money.
Although the bill has already passed the state legislature, it still requires Governor Hochul’s signature before it can take effect. If approved, the implementation timeline will be announced at a later date. Analysts believe that if New York’s initiative proves successful, other states across the United States may adopt similar policies.
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