• Consumers are often confused by “best by,” “use by,” and “sell by” labels and throw away unspoiled food because of the dates on packaging.
• A new California law restricts the kinds of phrases used on food packaging to reduce food waste in the state.
• There is no national standard on the use of “best by” or “use by,” despite several attempts in Congress.

If you’ve thrown out food because it’s older than the “Best by” or “Sell by” date printed on the packaging, you’re not alone. 

According to California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), 2.5 billion meals’ worth of unspoiled food is thrown away annually in the state. Part of the reason why is the number of different phrases used on packaging, including “sell by,” “use by,” “best before,” and “expires.” According to a study by Harvard, John Hopkins, and food waste non-profit reFed, 43% of Americans toss food near or at the date on the label, even if it’s still fit to eat. Except for infant formula, there is no federal-level regulation of these labels, leaving manufacturers and retailers to use dates as they fit, adding confusion that leads to food waste.