# Food Date Labeling Act of 2023

Right now, food packages use confusing date labels that mean different things depending on the manufacturer. You might see "Best By," "Sell By," "Use By," or "Expires On"—and there's no standard meaning for any of them. This bill tries to fix that confusion by creating uniform date labels that all food companies would have to use if they choose to put dates on their packages.

The bill establishes two specific types of dates with standardized labels. A "quality date" would be labeled "BEST If Used By" (or "BB" on small packages) and tells you when the food's quality might start to decline—but it's still safe to eat after that date. A "discard date" would be labeled "USE By" (or "UB" on small packages) and indicates when you should stop eating the product. The key difference is that quality dates are about taste and texture, while discard dates are about safety. Both types of dates would need to be printed clearly and visibly on the package, using a consistent format with the month and year (or month, day, and year).

Whether food companies actually put these dates on their products is still optional—the bill doesn't require them to label anything. It only says that if they do choose to use dates, they have to follow these standardized rules. The bill also doesn't prevent states from making their own rules about selling or donating food past the discard date, and it specifically protects infant formula from these requirements since that product has its own strict safety rules. Companies would have two years from when the law passes to start following these requirements, giving them time to update their packaging.

Food Date Labeling Act of 2023

Pingree, Chellie

Food Date Labeling Act of 2023 This bill establishes requirements for the format of quality date and discard date labels on food packaging. Specifically, the bill requires the quality date on a food label (i.e., the date after which the quality of the item may deteriorate) to include the phrase BEST If Used By or the abbreviation BB. Similarly, the discard date on a food label (i.e., the date after which the item should not be consumed) must include the phrase USE By or the abbreviation UB. Abbreviations may only be used if the full phrase does not fit on the label. The Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture may specify alternative phrases through regulations.