Why California Is Getting Rid of "Sell By" Labels on Food
After years of confusing labels, businesses are moving toward a simpler system.
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Chapter 1 Taking Risks & Making Profits
Chapter 4 Ethics & Social Responsibility
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For years, shoppers have relied on the dates printed on food packages to decide whether something is still safe to eat. But one of the most common labels, “sell by,” was never intended for consumers at all. Instead, it was created to help grocery stores know how long to keep products on their shelves. Over time, though, many shoppers came to see “sell by” as an expiration date, throwing away food that was often still safe to eat. To reduce that confusion, California is now requiring food manufacturers to replace “sell by” labels with clearer language that distinguishes between food quality and food safety.
The change highlights an important challenge for businesses: communicating clearly with customers. Over the years, food manufacturers have used dozens of different labels: “sell by,” “best by,” “best before,” “freshest by,” “enjoy by,” “expires on.” Most of these labels are not regulated by the federal government and do not indicate when food becomes unsafe. The confusion leaves many shoppers unsure what the dates actually mean. As a result, consumers often assume any printed date means food should be thrown away. According to the Food and Drug Administration, confusion over date labels contributes to nearly 20 percent of food waste in the United States. Businesses, food banks, and consumers all bear the cost when edible food is discarded too soon.
California's new law replaces a confusing system with two standard labels: “best if used by” for food quality and “use by” for food safety. Grocery stores and manufacturers have generally supported the change, even though some companies have had to update their packaging and labeling systems. Because California is such a large market, the new labels could eventually appear on products sold across the country. The change shows that sometimes improving a product does not require changing the product itself. Instead, businesses can create value simply by making information easier for customers to understand.
Questions:
Why is California replacing “sell by” labels on food with new standardized labels?
Do you think other states should develop food label requirements similar to California’s new law? Why or why not?
References:
Olga R. Rodriguez, “Did the Milk Expire? California Bans ‘Sell By’ Food Labels To Cut Food Waste,” The Associated Press, July 1, 2026; Amanda Greenwood, “Why California Is Banning ‘Sell By’ Labels—What It Means for Shoppers,” Newsweek, June 25, 2026.
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highered
2026-11-06T14:56:31.883Z
highered Why California Is Getting Rid of "Sell By" Labels on Food After years of confusing labels, businesses are moving toward a simpler system. For years, shoppers have relied on the dates printed on food packages to decide whether something is still safe to eat. But one of the most common labels, “sell by,” was never intended for consumers at all. Instead, it was created to help grocery stores know how long to keep products on their shelves. Over time, though, many shoppers came to see “sell by” as an expiration date, throwing away food that was often still safe to eat. To reduce that confusion, California is now requiring food manufacturers to replace “sell by” labels with clearer language that distinguishes between food quality and food safety. The change highlights an important challenge for businesses: communicating clearly with customers. Over the years, food manufacturers have used dozens of different labels: “sell by,” “best by,” “best before,” “freshest by,” “enjoy by,” “expires on.” Most of these labels are not regulated by the federal government and do not indicate when food becomes unsafe. The confusion leaves many shoppers unsure what the dates actually mean. As a result, consumers often assume any printed date means food should be thrown away. According to the Food and Drug Administration, confusion over date labels contributes to nearly 20 percent of food waste in the United States. Businesses, food banks, and consumers all bear the cost when edible food is discarded too soon. California's new law replaces a confusing system with two standard labels: “best if used by” for food quality and “use by” for food safety. Grocery stores and manufacturers have generally supported the change, even though some companies have had to update their packaging and labeling systems. Because California is such a large market, the new labels could eventually appear on products sold across the country. The change shows that sometimes improving a product does not require changing the product itself. Instead, businesses can create value simply by making information easier for customers to understand. Questions: Why is California replacing “sell by” labels on food with new standardized labels? Do you think other states should develop food label requirements similar to California’s new law? Why or why not?
After years of confusing labels, businesses are moving toward a simpler system.
Bonus Chapter A, Business Law & Economics, Pricing, Higher Education, Blog, Understanding Business, Product Distribution, Chapter 1 Taking Risks & Making Profits, Chapter 15 Distribution, Chapter 14 Product & Price, Chapter 13 Marketing, Ethics, Article, Food & Drink, Retail, Marketing and Advertising, Chapter 4 Ethics & Social Responsibility, Manufacturing & Packaging, Product Development
