Bill > A07291

This bill mandates that food manufacturers, processors, and retailers use specific, uniform terms on food labels to indicate either a "USE by" or "USE by or Freeze by" date for safety, or a "BEST if Used by" or "BEST if Used or Frozen by" date for quality, with abbreviations "UB" and "BB" allowed for very small items; it prohibits the sale of food manufactured after July 1, 2028, with non-compliant date labels or those using the phrase "sell by," while allowing coded "sell by" dates that are not easily readable by consumers; the Department of Agriculture and Markets will be responsible for estimating shelf life using scientifically valid methods, considering various factors of the food product and storage conditions, and will also educate consumers through its website and outreach activities to wholesalers, retailers, food donation groups, and the general public about the meaning of these dates and the acceptance of food past its quality date, requiring stores to post signage about these labels; this section does not apply to infant formula, alcoholic beverages, or shellfish where other laws conflict, but it does not prohibit the sale of food past its quality date or the use of online information labels, and the Commissioner can grant exemptions if federal laws conflict.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7291