What does Preamble of Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 do?

This bill, formally titled 'To establish requirements for quality and discard date phrases that are voluntarily declared on the food label to display calendar dates,' aims to establish requirements for quality and discard date phrases on food labels. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on August 15, 2025.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 do?

This bill is formally titled the Food Date Labeling Act of 2025

What does DEFINITIONS. of Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 do?

This section defines terms used within the Act. “Administering Secretaries” refers to the Secretary of Agriculture for certain agricultural products and the Secretary of Health and Human Services for other products. The Secretary of Agriculture's jurisdiction includes poultry products, meat food products, and egg products. The Secretary of Health and Human Services' jurisdiction includes food as defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. “Discard date phrase” means a phrase indicating when a product should not be consumed. “Quality date phrase” means a phrase indicating when a product's quality may deteriorate, but the product remains wholesome.

What does QUALITY DATE PHRASES AND DISCARD DATE PHRASES. of Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes uniform phrases for quality and discard dates on food packaging, initially 'BEST If Used By' and 'USE By', respectively. The use of abbreviations 'BB' and 'UB' is permitted only when packaging is too small to include the full phrases. Entities responsible for food labels retain discretion regarding whether to include quality or discard dates and which foods to label. Dates must be displayed in a clear format, such as month and year, and placed prominently on the label. The use of technologies like QR codes and time-temperature indicators is permitted alongside the uniform phrases. The administering Secretaries must provide consumer education on quality and discard date phrases within two years of enactment. States can continue to prohibit the sale or donation of food after the discard date. This section does not apply to infant formula and does not affect existing requirements related to it. States cannot establish labeling requirements for quality or discard dates that differ from the federal requirements outlined in this Act. The administering Secretaries are responsible for ensuring standardization of the uniform phrases across all food products.

What does MISBRANDING. of Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 do?

This section amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act It adds a new subsection related to misbranding due to non-compliant date labeling Similar amendments are made to the Poultry Products Inspection Act, Federal Meat Inspection Act, and Egg Products Inspection Act

What does REGULATIONS. of Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 do?

This section requires the administering Secretaries to promulgate final regulations. The regulations are intended to carry out the provisions of this Act. The regulations must be promulgated within two years of the Act's enactment.

What does DELAYED APPLICABILITY. of Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 do?

This Act applies to food products labeled 2 years after enactment Applicability is delayed for 2 years after the date of enactment

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Food Date Labeling Act of 2025

Last updated: 1/13/2026 · Introduced: 8/15/2025

Author: Chellie Pingree (D-ME)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes 'BEST If Used By' and 'USE By' as the standard phrases for quality and discard dates on food labels, allowing abbreviations only when space is limited.
The bill preempts state laws that establish quality or discard date labeling requirements that differ from the federal standards.
It amends existing food safety acts to define misbranding related to non-compliant date labeling and requires federal agencies to educate consumers on these date phrases.

119th Congressin committeeS. 2541(In Committee)Official page

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Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 5 more.

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