California passes new law for clear food marking
California passes new law for clear food marking
In California, a groundbreaking change in the area of food identification is imminent, which is intended to end the daily puzzle rates of consumers over the freshness of their food. Under the new law, which was signed by governor Gavin Newsom, the use of misleading labels such as "sales to" or "at least durable to" is prohibited. These labels have often caused confusion in the past, since there are no uniform legal regulations that determine the importance of these names. The result was high food waste, with an estimated 6 million tons of non -expired foods that end up in the trash annually in California.
The change in law, which is due to enter into force in July 2026, aims to protect the environment and reduce the financial burdens of consumers. According to the new law, there should be a clear distinction between two types of labels: "Best IF Used by" for the optimal quality and "use by" for product safety, which is also recommended by federal authorities. However, the regulation provides for exceptions for certain products such as eggs and alcoholic beverages.
background of legislation
"People often have difficulty deciding whether their foods are really still edible," explains the democratic MP Jacqui Irwin, who initiated the new law. "This legislation is an important step to save consumers money and at the same time to support the environment." From the legislator's point of view, the challenge is to achieve a consensus on food labeling, which is understandable for both consumers and dealers, especially since similar efforts are currently stagnating at the federal level.
The new regulation is seen as a model for other states, but could also initiate industrial changes because California has a large market share. Experts expect companies to be able to adapt their label standards to stay competitive.
consumers such as Jasmine Acosta, a 23-year-old buyer from Los Angeles, consider the current labels to be incomprehensible. She emphasizes that clear and simple labels are crucial to prevent food waste and offer consumers better orientation. "It would obviously be a help if there were clear standards that make sure that the food can be used, or if not, then there would be just a waste of money," she added.
At a time when the increase in food waste is seen worldwide as a critical environmental problem, California's decision could have groundbreaking effects on the entire food industry and the buying behavior of consumers. However, the complete scope of legislation and its long -term effects on the food industry will only become apparent over the years. Consumer advocates and legislators rely on the fact that these changes significantly help to reduce the confusion in connection with food data and to reduce the waste rate.
For more information about this significant change in the law, you can be the article by abcnews.go.com Read.
Kommentare (0)