Posted on July 18, 2026

For decades, shoppers have encountered a confusing collection of dates on food packages: “sell by,” “best before,” “best if used by,” “fresh through,” “use by,” and “expires on.” Although these phrases may look similar, they have not always communicated the same thing. Some refer to product quality, others may relate to food safety, and “sell by” dates have traditionally been intended primarily for retailers managing inventory.

California is now simplifying that system.

Under Assembly Bill 660, California has standardized the language used for quality and safety dates on most food products. The law also prohibits consumer-facing “sell by” labels on covered food manufactured on or after July 1, 2026. Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 660 on September 28, 2024, and its principal labeling requirements became operative on July 1, 2026.

The change is designed to help consumers understand what a date actually means, reduce the disposal of edible food, and create a more consistent labeling system for manufacturers, processors, retailers, and shoppers.

Why Were “Sell By” Dates So Confusing?

A traditional “sell by” date was generally an inventory-management tool. It told a grocery store how long to display a product or when the store should rotate it off the shelf. It did not necessarily mean that the food became unsafe on the date printed on the package.

Most consumers, however, do not manage grocery-store inventory. When shoppers saw a “sell by” date, many interpreted it as a warning that the food should not be eaten after that day. As a result, food that was still wholesome could be thrown away simply because the date had passed.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture says that more than 50 differently worded date labels have been used in the United States. The agency also reports that Californians discard the equivalent of approximately 2.5 billion meals of unspoiled food each year. Organic material represents about 48% of what Californians send to landfills, making unnecessary food disposal both an economic and environmental concern. 

AB 660 attempts to address this confusion by separating dates into two clear categories: quality dates and safety dates.

The New Standardized Date Labels

When a manufacturer, processor, or retailer responsible for labeling chooses—or is otherwise legally required—to place a quality or safety date on a covered food manufactured on or after July 1, 2026, the label must use one of California’s approved phrases.

1. Quality dates

A quality date indicates when a product may begin to lose freshness, flavor, texture, color, or another quality characteristic. It does not automatically mean the food is unsafe after that date.

The approved quality-date phrases are:

“BEST if Used by”

“BEST if Used or Frozen by”

Small packages that do not have enough space for the full phrase may use “BB.” Beverages covered by the relevant statutory definition may also use the “BB” abbreviation.

For consumers, the important word is “best.” It communicates that the date concerns the product’s expected peak quality. A box of crackers, for example, might become stale after its quality date, but the date alone does not necessarily establish that the crackers are dangerous to eat.

2. Safety dates

A safety date is different. It communicates that a perishable product with safety implications should be eaten or frozen by the listed date.

The approved safety-date phrases are:

“USE by”

“USE by or Freeze by”

A food package that is too small for the full phrase may use “UB.” 

Consumers should take a “USE by” label more seriously than a “BEST if Used by” label. While the “best” phrase concerns peak quality, the “use” phrase is intended to communicate food safety.

Are “Sell By” Dates Completely Banned?

For covered food manufactured on or after July 1, 2026, a person may not sell or offer the product for sale in California if it carries the consumer-facing phrase “sell by.” The prohibition applies to products sold for human consumption. 

However, retailers can still use coded information for stock rotation. The law permits a coded sell-by date as long as it is not easily readable by consumers and does not use the words “sell by.” This allows stores to continue managing inventory without presenting shoppers with a date that could be mistaken for an expiration or safety deadline.

The manufacturing date is also important. AB 660 applies its standardized labeling and sell-by provisions to covered food manufactured on or after July 1, 2026. Therefore, consumers may continue to see some older products with previous date-labeling language while inventory manufactured before that date moves through the supply chain.

The Law Does Not Require Every Food to Have a Date

One common misunderstanding is that AB 660 requires a date on every food package. It does not.

Unless another law requires a particular product to display a date, AB 660 generally controls the wording used when a business decides to display a quality or safety date. In other words, the law standardizes applicable date labels; it does not create a universal expiration-date requirement for all foods.

A manufacturer may therefore sell a product without a quality or safety date if no other applicable law requires one. But if the manufacturer prints such a date on a covered product, it must use the appropriate standardized terminology.

The law also allows labels or codes that direct consumers to online information about a food product.

Important Exceptions

AB 660 does not apply to every food and beverage category. The statute specifically excludes:

Infant formula

Eggs and pasteurized in-shell eggs

Beer and other malt beverages

These products may be subject to separate federal or state requirements. For example, California’s egg-labeling rules continue to require certain information, including a sell-by date, on consumer-grade egg packages.

The law also recognizes that separate requirements may govern shellfish. If another law or a National Shellfish Sanitation Program provision authorizes or requires terminology that conflicts with AB 660, the standardized requirements do not apply to that extent.

Wine, distilled spirits, and products based on wine or distilled spirits may continue to display dates communicating when they were produced, manufactured, bottled, or packaged. Such statements may use conventional or Julian date formats.

What About Food Prepared in Grocery Stores?

Grocery stores frequently package prepared foods such as sandwiches, salads, baked goods, sliced meats, seafood, and ready-to-heat meals. Under the law, a grocery store may place a “packed on” date on an item prepared or repackaged on its premises.

However, if the store uses a “packed on” label, the prepared item must also display a compliant quality or safety date. A “packed on” date by itself does not tell a customer how long the product should maintain quality or when it should be consumed for safety.

The statute’s definition of a grocery store includes areas within the store that are not separately owned and where food is prepared and served, such as bakeries, delis, meat counters, and seafood counters.

Can Food Be Sold or Donated After Its “Best” Date?

Yes, in appropriate circumstances.

AB 660 specifically states that it does not prohibit or discourage the sale, donation, or use of food after a quality date has passed. This reinforces the meaning of “BEST if Used by”: it is a quality indicator, not necessarily a declaration that the product is unsafe.

The law also allows a retail food facility to donate a food item even if the item is not labeled in accordance with the standardized date-labeling section.

Of course, the ability to sell, donate, or use food after a quality date does not eliminate other food-safety responsibilities. A product that shows signs of spoilage, has been recalled, has damaged packaging, or has not been stored at a safe temperature should not be treated as acceptable merely because its printed date concerns quality.

What Consumers Should Do Under the New System

California shoppers can use the new terminology as a simple decision-making guide.

If the package says “BEST if Used by”

Treat the date as a quality recommendation. The food may still be usable after the date if it has been stored correctly and shows no signs of spoilage. Check the package, appearance, texture, and storage history before deciding whether to use it.

If the package says “USE by”

Treat the date as safety-related. Follow the instruction and consume or freeze the product by the listed date.

If the package says “Packed on”

Look for an additional “BEST if Used by” or “USE by” label. The packed-on date tells you when the store prepared or repackaged the food, but the second date communicates its quality or safety period.

If there is no date

Do not assume the package violates California law. Some products are not legally required to carry a date, and AB 660 does not require every food manufacturer to add one.

What Businesses Should Consider

Food manufacturers, processors, private-label companies, distributors, and retailers selling products in California should review their labels and internal practices. Compliance may require more than simply replacing the words “sell by.”

Businesses should consider:

Classifying each date correctly.
A company must determine whether its date communicates quality or safety.

Updating packaging artwork and label templates.
Outdated phrases should be replaced with the approved wording.

Reprogramming date-printing equipment.
Printers used in factories, bakeries, delis, meat departments, and seafood departments may need new templates.

Reviewing products manufactured for multiple states.
A nationwide label using California-compliant language may be more practical than creating a separate California package.

Training employees.
Store and production employees should understand the distinction between quality, safety, packed-on, and coded inventory dates.

Updating donation and food-recovery procedures.
Employees should not automatically discard a product merely because its quality date has passed.

Maintaining production records.
Because the requirements are tied to products manufactured on or after July 1, 2026, accurate records can help businesses distinguish older inventory from newly covered products.

Food businesses should also review federal requirements and product-specific rules. AB 660 states that a provision will not apply or be enforced to the extent it is preempted by federal law. 

A Small Label Change With a Potentially Large Impact

California’s new food-date labeling law changes only a few words on the package, but those words can influence millions of household decisions.

By removing consumer-facing “sell by” dates and creating a clear distinction between “BEST if Used by” and “USE by,” the state hopes to help shoppers recognize the difference between declining quality and an actual safety concern. The system may also help families save money, assist retailers and food banks in recovering edible products, and reduce the amount of organic material sent to landfills.

The central message is straightforward: a date should tell consumers what they need to know. “Best” refers to quality. “Use” refers to safety. “Sell by” is for inventory management—and, for most newly manufactured food sold in California, it will no longer appear in consumer-facing language.

This article provides general information and is not legal or food-safety advice. Businesses should consult applicable California and federal requirements for their specific products.