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Food Date Labeling Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-4987| House 
| Updated: 8/15/2025
Chellie Pingree

Chellie Pingree

Democratic Representative

Maine

Cosponsors (8)
Paul Tonko (Democratic)Dan Newhouse (Republican)Josh Riley (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)

Agriculture Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the Food Date Labeling Act of 2025, aims to standardize the voluntary use of quality and discard date phrases on food packaging. It defines a quality date phrase as indicating when a product's quality may begin to deteriorate while remaining wholesome, and a discard date phrase as the point after which a product should not be consumed due to the end of its estimated shelf life. The legislation applies to products under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture (meat, poultry, egg products) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (other foods). For quality dates, the bill mandates the uniform phrase "BEST If Used By," or its abbreviation "BB" if space is limited. Similarly, for discard dates, the required uniform phrase is "USE By," or "UB" for smaller packaging. Manufacturers retain the discretion to decide whether to include these date phrases on their food products. All dates must be displayed in an easy-to-read, conspicuous manner, using a month and year or month, day, and year format. The bill permits the use of advanced technologies like QR codes or smart labels in conjunction with or in lieu of the uniform phrases. It also allows for the addition of "or freeze by" to either date phrase. Importantly, the Act preempts states from establishing different or additional requirements for these date phrases, or from prohibiting the sale of food based solely on a quality date. However, states may still prohibit the sale or donation of foods based on the passage of a discard date, and infant formula is explicitly excluded from these provisions. The administering Secretaries are tasked with providing consumer education on the meaning of these date phrases within two years of enactment. Failure to comply with the established labeling requirements will result in the food product being deemed misbranded under relevant federal acts. The Act and its amendments will apply to food products labeled two years after its enactment, allowing time for industry adjustment and regulatory finalization.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3981
Food Date Labeling Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-3159
Food Date Labeling Act of 2023

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6167
Food Date Labeling Act of 2021
Jul 30, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2541
Introduced in Senate
Aug 15, 2025
Introduced in House
Aug 15, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3981
    Food Date Labeling Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-3159
    Food Date Labeling Act of 2023


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6167
    Food Date Labeling Act of 2021


  • July 30, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2541
    Introduced in Senate


  • August 15, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • August 15, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • S 119-2541: Food Date Labeling Act of 2025

Food Date Labeling Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-4987| House 
| Updated: 8/15/2025
This bill, titled the Food Date Labeling Act of 2025, aims to standardize the voluntary use of quality and discard date phrases on food packaging. It defines a quality date phrase as indicating when a product's quality may begin to deteriorate while remaining wholesome, and a discard date phrase as the point after which a product should not be consumed due to the end of its estimated shelf life. The legislation applies to products under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture (meat, poultry, egg products) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (other foods). For quality dates, the bill mandates the uniform phrase "BEST If Used By," or its abbreviation "BB" if space is limited. Similarly, for discard dates, the required uniform phrase is "USE By," or "UB" for smaller packaging. Manufacturers retain the discretion to decide whether to include these date phrases on their food products. All dates must be displayed in an easy-to-read, conspicuous manner, using a month and year or month, day, and year format. The bill permits the use of advanced technologies like QR codes or smart labels in conjunction with or in lieu of the uniform phrases. It also allows for the addition of "or freeze by" to either date phrase. Importantly, the Act preempts states from establishing different or additional requirements for these date phrases, or from prohibiting the sale of food based solely on a quality date. However, states may still prohibit the sale or donation of foods based on the passage of a discard date, and infant formula is explicitly excluded from these provisions. The administering Secretaries are tasked with providing consumer education on the meaning of these date phrases within two years of enactment. Failure to comply with the established labeling requirements will result in the food product being deemed misbranded under relevant federal acts. The Act and its amendments will apply to food products labeled two years after its enactment, allowing time for industry adjustment and regulatory finalization.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3981
Food Date Labeling Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-3159
Food Date Labeling Act of 2023

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6167
Food Date Labeling Act of 2021
Jul 30, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2541
Introduced in Senate
Aug 15, 2025
Introduced in House
Aug 15, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3981
    Food Date Labeling Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-3159
    Food Date Labeling Act of 2023


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6167
    Food Date Labeling Act of 2021


  • July 30, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2541
    Introduced in Senate


  • August 15, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • August 15, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Chellie Pingree

Chellie Pingree

Democratic Representative

Maine

Cosponsors (8)
Paul Tonko (Democratic)Dan Newhouse (Republican)Josh Riley (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)

Agriculture Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • S 119-2541: Food Date Labeling Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted