Why states want to change 'Sell By' labels on food (Level 1)

California is the first state to ban sell-by dates on food. You will not see these dates in stores from July. Why? Because many date labels confuse people. There are over 50 different labels, like sell by, best by, or use by. Most people do not know what they mean. In fact, sell-by dates were only for stores, not for customers. The new law in California makes things simple. Now there are only two labels. One says best if used by. This label is about quality. The other says use by. This label is about safety. If the date passes, you should throw the food away. Other states like New York and Massachusetts may follow. Confusing labels cause a lot of food waste. About 31% of all food in the US is thrown away. Much of it comes from homes. To waste less food, store it correctly. Keep your fridge cold, and look for mold or bad smells. You can save money and help the environment.