On May 20, lawmakers introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate and House that would make expiration date labeling on packaged food items more consistent and coherent and, consequently, help reduce food waste.
The companion bills were introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in the Senate and by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) in the House. The legislation—entitled the Food Date Labeling Act—would establish standard federal rules for dates on food labels. There are currently no national guidelines for dated food labels—with the exception of infant formula—and local rules on labeling can vary widely.
“One of the most common arguments people seem to have at home is about whether or not food should be thrown out just because the date on the label has passed. It’s time to settle that argument, end the confusion and stop throwing away perfectly good food,” said Pingree.
Often, food date labels reflect food manufacturers’ recommendations for when food will be at its best—not when eating the food will no longer be safe. The proposed bill distinguishes between foods that bear a label indicating peak quality from foods that bear a label indicating they may become unsafe to consume past the date. This bill would also ensure that food is allowed to be sold or donated after its quality date, and educate consumers about the meaning of new labels so that they can make better economic and safety decision. In addition, the bill would require the use of food date label terminology (i.e., “best if used by”) that has gone through consumer perception surveys and has been identified as language that is the clearest and most accurate to consumers.
