Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
Today, U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), along with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), reintroduced the Food Date Labeling Act. This bicameral, bipartisan legislation aims to end consumer confusion around expiration and “best by” dates by standardizing date labels on certain products—while helping significantly reduce food waste across the country.
“Each year, 90% of Americans throw out perfectly safe food simply because the date labels were confusing. With food prices on the rise, that kind of waste can take a significant toll on a family’s finances,” said Pingree, co-chair of the Bipartisan Food Recovery Caucus. “The broader impacts, on both the environment and the economy, are massive. That’s what makes this bill such a game-changer: By making food labels less confusing and standardizing how companies determine certain dates, we can dramatically reduce food waste—while saving families money and keeping perfectly good food out of landfills.”
“Every year, an estimated 40 percent of the food production in the U.S. goes to waste, with inconsistencies in food labeling as a driving factor,” said Newhouse. “This legislation reforms food labeling practices, saves consumers money, and ensures we make the most of out the high-quality products we enjoy every day.”
“Current food date labeling practices are arbitrary and outdated—all too often leaving consumers confused about when products are safe to eat and encouraging them to throw away perfectly good food. Our commonsense legislation brings clarity to consumers by standardizing the food labeling system. With rising food prices, the Food Date Labeling Act will help shoppers save money and help our nation reduce unnecessary food waste,” said Senator Blumenthal.
Senator Scott said, “Families across the country are working hard to take care of their families, make good decisions, and put food on the table. The last thing they need to deal with are confusing food date labels that are leading to perfectly good food being thrown away, wasting money and resources. This bipartisan bill offers a clear, straightforward solution to help consumers make smarter choices, reduce food waste, and support food donation efforts. I’m proud to work with my bipartisan colleagues to make our food system more transparent, efficient, and affordable for every American family.”
There are currently no federal regulations related to date labels on food products, with the exception of infant formula. Date labeling regulations are left up to states, which means consumers are left trying to sort out a patchwork of confounding terms. “Sell by,” “use by,” “freshest on,” and “expires on” are just a few of the phrases currently being used on food products.
The bipartisan Food Date Labeling Act establishes an easily understood food date labeling system:
- “BEST If Used By” communicates to consumers that the quality of the food product may begin to deteriorate after the date.
- “USE By” communicates the end of the estimated period of shelf life, after which the product should not be consumed.
Under the bill, food manufacturers can decide which of their products carry a quality date or a discard date. It also allows food to be sold or donated after its labeled quality date, helping more food reach those who need it.
An estimated 40 percent of food produced in the U.S. goes to waste. Domestic food production accounts for significant land use, water usage, and energy consumption and results in 11% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, recovering food helps reduce climate change and ensures that the hard work and resources that go into producing food is not wasted.
Pingree has long recognized that food waste reduction is a win-win, bringing both environmental and economic benefits. Pingree first introduced a version of the food date labeling bill, as well as the more comprehensive Food Recovery Act, in the 113th Congress.
In the spring of 2018, she launched Congress’s first-ever Bipartisan Food Recovery Caucus with former Congressman David Young (R-Iowa), and currently serves as co-chair with Congressman Newhouse. The 2018 Farm Bill included Pingree’s provisions to create the first full-time food loss and waste reduction liaison at USDA, a composting and food waste reduction pilot program, and the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to reduce on-farm waste.
Following a request for study made by Pingree and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) in October 2017, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report with recommendations on how the federal government can expand its efforts to reduce food waste. Another GAO report focused on food date labeling was published in 2019.
Provisions to standardize food date labeling to reduce consumer confusion are also included in Pingree and Senator Martin Heinrich’s (D-N.M.) Agriculture Resilience Act, which was reintroduced in April.
INDUSTRY AND ADVOCACY STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT FOR THE FOOD DATE LABELING ACT
Renee Albrecht, representative of the Zero Food Waste Coalition: “Confusing date labels drive up food waste and grocery bills for American families. With around 50 different terms in use, it’s no wonder people end up tossing perfectly good food. The bipartisan Food Date Labeling Act cuts through that confusion with clear, standardized labels – saving consumers money and keeping more food out of landfills. We’re grateful to Representatives Pingree and Newhouse and Senators Blumenthal and Scott for championing this commonsense fix that’s good for wallets and waste reduction.”
Dana Gunders, President, ReFED: “Today, people are throwing perfectly good food away because they misunderstand food date labels. Eliminating this confusion will save consumers and businesses money. It’s a win-win and we’re thrilled to see more bipartisan and industry support for this policy than ever before.”
Pete Pearson, Vice President Food – Food Loss and Waste, World Wildlife Fund: “In the US, it’s estimated that 30-40 percent of our food supply is lost or wasted. When we waste food, we waste all the underlying inputs used to produce it, including land, water, and energy resources. In this context, preventing food waste represents a critical act of conservation. The Food Date Labeling Act along with nationwide consumer education will heighten awareness on food waste and help us all adjust behaviors at home. This is a win-win for consumers’ wallets and the environment.”
Susanne Lee, Faculty Fellow, Sen. George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, University of Maine: “Our wasted food research at UMaine’s Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions clearly supports national data showing that the vast majority of consumers – estimated at over 80% – are confused by food date labels leading them to throw out perfectly good and edible food. In Maine, confusing food date labeling results in approximately 10% of all wasted food or approximately 36,000 tons annually. This needless waste of good, edible food is especially concerning at a time when Feeding America data shows 1 in 5 children in Maine go hungry. In addition, this waste squanders Maine’s precious resources – fresh water, energy, soil and labor – which are used to produce food that is ultimately thrown away. We thank Congresswoman Pingree for her perseverance and hard work to end this date label confusion and the estimated $7 billion in food wasted nationally each year. We also appreciate the bi-partisan action behind this legislation to end this waste of our valuable food resource.”
Greg Williams, Director of Public Policy & Affairs, Agri-Cycle: “As a Maine-based food waste hauler focused on climate solutions, we see firsthand how unclear date labels cause confusion for consumers and businesses alike — contributing to 4.25 million tons of surplus food every year, much of which ends up in landfills or incinerators. Standardizing date labeling through the Food Date Labeling Act is a commonsense, bipartisan step that could reduce 2.23 million metric tons of CO₂ annually, according to ReFED. We’re proud to support this initiative and grateful for Congresswoman Pingree’s leadership in driving climate-smart food policy that supports Maine’s economy and the environment.”
Sarah Gallo, Senior Vice President Product Policy, Consumer Brands Association: “The makers of America’s trusted household brands have always been committed to increasing consumer transparency and reducing unnecessary food waste. A streamlined and standardized approach to wording accompanying date labels on packages increases consumer confidence in the quality and safety of products. The Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 builds on industry led efforts and provides national uniformity to prevent consumer confusion. We appreciate the sponsors’ efforts to balance the needs of the consumer and complexity of changing labels.”
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