SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 3 (Our California Times) — California’s new food date-label law took effect July 1, standardizing the phrases used on food items sold in the state and banning consumer-facing “sell by” dates.
Under Assembly Bill 660, the California Department of Food and Agriculture says quality dates must read “BEST if Used by” or “BEST if Used or Frozen by,” while safety dates must read “USE by” or “USE by or Freeze by.” The department says coded “sell by” dates can still be used for retailer stock rotation if they are not meant for consumers.
CDFA says the change is meant to cut consumer confusion that leads to the disposal of wholesome food. The agency says the rule applies to food items for human consumption manufactured on or after July 1, 2026, and that the ban on consumer-facing “sell by” dates does not apply to eggs or infant formula.
A California Department of Public Health spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times that enforcement is handled locally, and the newspaper identified the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health as the regional enforcement agency.
