Bill > A04164

This bill requires retailers to clearly mark perishable and packaged foods with two specific dates: a safety date (the last day a food is considered safe to consume) and a quality date (the last day a food is recommended for optimal consumption). The bill provides detailed definitions of perishable foods, which include specific categories like shell eggs, various baked goods with high moisture content, certain dairy products, and pre-packaged foods requiring refrigeration. Packaged foods are defined as those subject to federal Nutrition Labeling and Education Act requirements. Under this legislation, no retailer can sell or display these types of foods for retail sale without prominently displaying both safety and quality dates on the product's container. The state's agriculture commissioner, in consultation with the health commissioner, will develop specific rules about how these dates should be formatted and placed on food packaging. The bill will take effect 180 days after becoming law, allowing time for businesses and regulators to prepare for the new labeling requirements.