California Standardizes 2 Food Date Labels to Cut Waste

Q: Now that California has standardized food labels, how quickly will the rest of the nation be forced to follow?

The rest of the country is likely to start following California almost immediately in practice, even if a formal national rule takes longer. California’s law, AB 660, took effect July 1, 2026, and it is the first state to require a simple two-label system: “BEST if Used By” for quality and “USE by” for safety, while barring consumer-facing “sell by” dates. Because California is such a large market, many national food companies are expected to use one package design nationwide rather than print separate labels just for California. That means a de facto national standard could spread during the current packaging cycle, starting in 2026 and into 2027. A formal federal requirement would likely come later. FDA and USDA have already signaled interest in mandatory date-labeling rules, and Congress has a bipartisan bill pending. If federal regulators finalize a rule within the current labeling window, the likely nationwide compliance date would be January 1, 2028. That is the clearest near-term marker for a true national mandate. How fast this happens depends on manufacturers, not just Washington. Large brands can switch quickly because they already distribute nationally and want to avoid legal risk and consumer confusion. Smaller producers may move more slowly unless federal rules force them to change. So the short answer is: consumers across the country may begin seeing California-style labels now, but a legally binding national standard is more likely by 2028.

3 articles · Updated · NPR · Jul 5

California enacted a law that standardizes food date labels, aiming to make expiration wording clearer for shoppers and reduce unnecessary food disposal.
Two phrases are at the center of the change: clearer "use by" labeling for safety and standardized date wording to replace the mix of terms that often confuses consumers.
Consumer confusion over "sell by" and similar labels has been driving tons of avoidable food waste, according to advocates interviewed about the measure.
California's move adds a statewide rule to a labeling system long criticized as inconsistent, with the broader goal of cutting waste across the food supply chain.