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S 1555

Relates to establishing reporting duties of law enforcement agencies with respect to police misconduct allegations and outcomes

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jabari Brisport and 3 co-sponsors

Standardize food date labels to reduce waste: use “best if used by” for quality dates and “expires on” for safety dates on ready-to-eat products.

REFERRED TO CODES
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 1555

Summary — S.1555 (2025): An Act decreasing food waste by standardizing the date labeling of food

Status: Introduced 05/01/2025; REFERRED TO CODES (see legislative actions below)
Subject: Standardizing quality and safety date labels on food to reduce consumer confusion and food waste.

Purpose

To reduce food waste and improve consumer understanding by creating uniform labeling language and standards for voluntary “quality” dates and mandatory “safety” dates on food packaging, and to require the Department of Public Health to provide guidance, lists, and consumer education.

Key definitions (selected)

  • Commissioner: Commissioner of Public Health.
  • Food labeler: producer, manufacturer, distributor, or retailer placing a date label.
  • Quality date: voluntary date indicating when product quality may decline.
  • Safety date: date on a ready-to-eat product signifying the end of estimated shelf life under stated storage conditions, after which health risk may exist.
  • Ready-to-eat product: products edible without further processing (defined with reference to federal statutes for meat/poultry/eggs and other foods typically eaten raw).

Main provisions

  • Uniform phrases:
    • If a quality date is used, labelers must use the phrase “best if used by” (until the Commissioner adopts another phrase).
    • Safety dates on applicable ready-to-eat products must be preceded by the phrase “expires on” (unless changed by rulemaking).
  • Safety-date scope:
    • The Commissioner will establish criteria identifying ready-to-eat products that pose higher health risk after a certain date (e.g., risks from Listeria).
    • The Commissioner may add or exempt products from the high‑risk list and must review/update criteria and lists at least every 4 years.
  • Label formatting: quality/safety phrases and dates must be in a conspicuous place, easy‑to‑read type (upper & lower case), and state day and month (and year when appropriate).
  • Guidance & education: Commissioner to issue labeling guidance for labelers and provide consumer education within 1 year of enactment.
  • Sale/donation after quality date: sale, donation, or use of products after a quality date may not be prohibited; only safety-based restrictions may limit sale/donation after a quality date has passed.
  • Technology: use of time–temperature indicators or similar tech is permitted if consistent with the section.
  • Effective date: applies to food labeled on or after 2 years after enactment.
  • Enforcement: Section 2 amends existing Chapter 94 section 187 to make noncompliance with section 330 a labeling violation.

Who is affected

  • Food labelers: producers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers — will need to adopt prescribed language, formatting, and possibly change packaging practices.
  • Ready-to-eat product manufacturers: may be subject to required safety dates for higher-risk items.
  • Consumers and food donors/food banks: clearer messaging intended to reduce unnecessary disposal and facilitate donations; safety-based restrictions can still apply.
  • Department of Public Health: rulemaking, guidance, lists, and outreach responsibilities.

Expected impacts

  • Likely reduction in consumer confusion over date labels and potential reduction in avoidable food waste.
  • Compliance costs for label changes and possible operational adjustments by food businesses.
  • Clarification that quality dates are not safety-based may facilitate continued donation/retail of foods past “best if used by” dates.

Legislative actions (selected timeline from document)

  • Introduced in Senate: 05/01/2025 (read twice; referred to Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship)
  • Committee hearings reported and amended: July–September 2025 (reported with amendment in the nature of a substitute 07/29/2025)
  • Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders: 07/29/2025
  • Status notation: REFERRED TO CODES (01/10/2025 listed)

(If you want, I can produce a side-by-side comparison showing how this bill differs from current Massachusetts labeling practice or draft rule language the Commissioner might use.)

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

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