California is making food labels less confusing by banning "sell by" dates. The new law starting Wednesday requires ...

Food labels such as “sell by,” “use by” and “best by” have long been confused for expiration dates on grocery products.

The law standardizes language around expiration dates, aiming to minimize confusion about when food is safe to eat. More than one-third of food sold nationwide is wasted, the U.S.D.A. says.

Federal law does not require most food expiration dates. Learn how food date labels work and what really signals spoilage.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. “Project Hail Mary,” the film adaptation of Andy Weir’s ...