California bans ‘sell by’ labels to curb food waste and emissions

California has banned 'sell by' labels on food packaging to reduce food waste and emissions, replacing them with standardized 'Best if Used By' and 'Use By' labels. The law, effective since 2024, aims to address consumer confusion caused by inconsistent date labels, which often lead to premature disposal of safe food. Similar legislation is being considered in states like New York, Illinois, and Maryland.