California is taking steps to alleviate the ongoing household dilemma of determining whether the food in the refrigerator is still safe to consume.
Food labels with terms like “sell by” or “best before” can be misleading since they lack a universal meaning as per existing laws. However, California aims to address this issue by taking action to assist consumers in avoiding confusion when it comes to perishable goods stored in their refrigerators.
California becomes the first state to prohibit food labels like “sell by” or “best before” following the signing of a new law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. This legislation, aimed at reducing food waste and the state’s climate-warming emissions, sets a precedent for other states to follow.
Packaged food sold in stores can have over 50 different date labels, but the information is not well-regulated and does not necessarily reflect food safety. For instance, “sell by” dates are often used by stores as a reference to remove products from the shelf, rather than to determine if the product is still safe to consume.
Consumer confusion and food waste are both significant issues stemming from the lack of federal regulations governing food label information.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these labels, which do not have standardized guidelines, contribute to nearly 20% of the United States’ food waste. In California alone, this equates to approximately 6 million tons of unexpired food being discarded annually.
According to her statement, the new law is a significant milestone in preserving consumers’ finances and supporting the environment and the planet.
California’s new law is a significant step towards addressing food labeling confusion and reducing food waste.
It is noteworthy that similar efforts across the country have faced challenges at the federal level. Over the past decade, state lawmakers and advocates have been dedicated to passing legislation that tackles these issues.
Unfortunately, a similar measure failed to reach the governor’s desk in 2016. While former Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill in 2017 to establish voluntary uniform-labeling protocol, only a few companies chose to adhere to this honor system.
According to Erica Parker, a representative from Californians Against Waste, the industry has not been effectively implementing widespread measures to combat food waste as promised. In fact, instead of decreasing, food waste rates are actually on the rise.
Advocates are optimistic that this legislation could potentially lead to the establishment of new food labeling regulations in the United States.
However, it remains uncertain whether this new law, combined with the influential California market, will be enough to motivate companies to adopt standardized food labeling practices nationwide.
Nina Sevilla, a representative from the Natural Resources Defense Council and a sponsor of the bill, believes that California’s significant market share will act as a driving force for manufacturers. She expresses hope that California can serve as a model for other states, or even inspire action at the federal level.
According to 23-year-old shopper Jasmine Acosta, the majority of people lack an understanding of the language used on food labels.
“It can be quite confusing for most consumers,” said Acosta, as she shopped at a Smart & Final store in Los Angeles.
After working at a small grocery store, she has become accustomed to inspecting her meat purchases for any signs of spoilage, such as a strange smell or discoloration, before using them.
Acosta explains that the sell-by date is primarily used by the grocer to ensure that products are rotated properly and that the oldest items are sold first, but it does not necessarily mean that the food has gone bad.
While she was shopping on Tuesday, she came across a pack of meat that had a label saying “use or freeze by.” She thought that this wording was fairly straightforward compared to other instructions, but she still felt that it could be confusing to some people.
Acosta emphasized the importance of ensuring that everyone is aligned and that all resources are utilized effectively for the benefit of consumers. According to him, failure to do so would be a wasteful expenditure.