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S 1555

An Act decreasing food waste by standardizing the date labeling of food

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Barrett and 4 co-sponsors

Massachusetts standardizes food date labels to reduce consumer confusion and food waste by replacing inconsistent terminology with uniform labeling standards.

Hearing rescheduled to 09/10/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:35 PM in B-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
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Bill Summary · S 1555

Legislative bill overview

S 1555 standardizes date labeling on food products in Massachusetts by establishing uniform terminology and definitions for expiration dates. The bill aims to replace the current patchwork of "sell by," "use by," and "best by" dates with clearer, standardized language that consumers can understand consistently across all products.

Why is this important

Food waste costs consumers money and strains landfills—standardized labeling could reduce confusion that leads households to discard safe food prematurely. Approximately 30-40% of the U.S. food supply is wasted, and unclear date labels contribute significantly to this problem. Clearer labeling may help consumers make better purchasing and consumption decisions while reducing unnecessary waste.

Potential points of contention

  • Industry compliance costs: Manufacturers would need to update packaging and labeling systems, potentially increasing production costs that could be passed to consumers
  • Federal vs. state standards: Massachusetts would be creating state-specific labeling requirements that differ from federal guidelines, complicating distribution for multi-state suppliers
  • Definition disputes: Stakeholders may disagree on what dates mean—whether "use by" should indicate safety thresholds or quality decline, affecting liability and consumer behavior differently

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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