Summary of California Food and Beverage Labeling and Packaging Regulations

The document outlines recent amendments to food and beverage labeling regulations in California, including updates to quality, safety, and sell-by dates, as well as packaging and recycling requirements. Here’s a summary:

Effective Dates:

• Date Labeling Requirements:
  • Manufacturing Date: Applies to food items manufactured on or after January 1, 2025.
  • Enforcement Date: Begins on July 1, 2026.

Date Labeling Terms:

• Quality Dates:
  • Use “BEST if Used by” or “BEST if Used or Frozen by.”
  • For very small items, “BB” can be used.
• Safety Dates:
  • Use “USE by” or “USE by or Freeze by.”
  • For very small items, “UB” can be used.
• Prohibition:
  • The term “sell by” is prohibited unless used in a coded format that is not easily readable by consumers.

Exclusions:

• Not Applicable To:
  • Infant formula.
  • Eggs and pasteurized in-shell eggs.

Packaging Requirements:

• Reduced-Oxygen Packaging:
  • Updates to align with new labeling standards, including requirements for raw shucked shellfish.

Recycling and Reporting:

• Beverage Manufacturers:
  • Can opt to be responsible for compliance with postconsumer recycled plastic content requirements.
  • May submit a combined report with aggregated information instead of separate reports.

Compliance and Education:

• State-Mandated Local Program:
  • Violations of new requirements will be considered a misdemeanor.
• Consumer Education:
  • The Department of Food and Agriculture is authorized to educate consumers about quality and safety dates.
  • Labels may include information enabling consumers to access online details about food items.

Financial Provisions:

• Reimbursement:
  • No reimbursement is required for certain costs incurred by local agencies or school districts due to new or modified crimes or infractions.

The amendments aim to standardize date labeling to reduce consumer confusion and improve food safety, while also addressing packaging practices and enhancing recycling efforts.

Source: https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB660/id/3007800/California-2023-AB660-Amended.html##~https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB660/2023##~https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB660/2023

Region: United States