Food Date Labeling Act of 2025
Key claim: The Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 requires uniform federal phrases (BEST If Used By / USE By) for voluntary quality and discard dates on food labels and preempts differing state or local requirements.
Abstract
(HR4987 · 119th Congress) Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 This bill establishes uniform requirements for quality and discard date phrases (e.g., best by and use by ) placed voluntarily on food labels. Specifically, if a food is labeled with a quality date (i.e., the date after which the quality of the item may deteriorate), the label must include the phrase BEST If Used By or the abbreviation BB . Similarly, if a food is labeled with a discard date (i.e., the date after which the item should not be consumed), the label must include the phrase USE By or the abbreviation UB . Abbreviations may be used only if an item’s packaging is too small to fit the full phrase. Quality and discard dates must be written in a single, easy-to-read font and placed in a prominent location on an item’s label or package. The phrase or freeze by may be added after a quality or discard date phrase where appropriate. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must promulgate regulations to carry out these provisions and ensure that the uniform phrases are standardized across all food products. HHS and USDA may specify alternative quality and discard date phrases through regulations. The bill specifies that no state or local government may enforce a requirement related to quality and discard date phrases that differs from the requirements of the bill. The bill does not apply to infant formula, which is subject to separate labeling requirements under current law. Latest action (2026-01-13): Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
Why this matters
A single federal date-labeling vocabulary could reduce consumer confusion between ‘quality’ and ‘safety’ cues that is estimated to drive a significant share of household food waste, potentially lowering grocery costs and diversion to landfills. For manufacturers and retailers, preemption of divergent state rules would simplify label compliance across the national supply chain, though it removes states’ ability to mandate stricter or different phrasing.