Food labeling: quality dates, safety dates, and sell-by dates.
Vote required
Two Thirds
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Passed
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill updates California food labeling regulations to standardize the terms used for quality and safety dates. It requires food manufacturers to use specific phrases like "Best if Used By" or "Use By" for these dates, and prohibits the use of the outdated "sell by" term. The bill also creates a fund to educate consumers about these date labels and clarifies that certain food items, like dietary supplements, are exempt.
Key provisions
- Requires the use of specific date terms ("Best if Used By," "Use By") for quality and safety dates.
- Prohibits the use of the "sell by" term on food labels.
- Creates a fund for consumer education about date labels.
- Excludes dietary supplements from the labeling requirements.
- Allows grocery stores to display "packed on" labels alongside date labels.
- Specifies labeling requirements for wine and distilled spirits.
- Exempts infant formula, eggs, beer, and other malt beverages from the labeling requirements.
- Defines key terms like ‘food item for human consumption’ and ‘grocery store’.
Who is affected
- Food manufacturers
- Food processors
- Retailers
- Consumers
- Grocery stores
Notable changes
- Replaces the outdated "sell by" date with standardized terms like "Best if Used By" and "Use By".
Bill text
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
2 on record
Primary sponsors
Committee on Agriculture
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