Food Date Labeling Act of 2025

Uniformity and Clarity: The Act requires specific, uniform phrases for quality and discard dates, such as "BEST If Used By" or "USE By" (Section 3(a)(2) and 3(b)(2)). This standardization, combined with a requirement for easy-to-read type and conspicuous placement, helps consumers understand when quality may change or when a product should no longer be consumed (Section 2(2), 2(3), and 3(c)(1)).

Consistent Date Formats: By requiring dates to be stated in terms of month and year or month, day, and year, the bill ensures consumers receive specific timeframes (Section 3(c)(2)).

Consumer Education: The administering Secretaries are required to provide consumer education and outreach within two years of the Act's enactment to explain the meaning of these date phrases (Section s 3(d)).

Technological Flexibility: The law allows for the use of modern technologies, such as QR codes or smart labels, to assist with date labeling (Section 3(c)(4)).

Restrictions on State Labeling: The Act prevents states or political subdivisions from establishing food labeling requirements for quality or discard dates that are different from or not identical to those in this Act (Section 3(e)(3)(A)).

Limited State Authority on Quality: States are prohibited from creating requirements that prohibit the sale or donation of foods based on the passage of a quality date (Section 3(e)(3)(B)).

Exclusion of Infant Formula: The provisions of this Act do not apply to infant formula (Section 3(e)(2)(A)).