Have you ever thrown away perfectly good milk just because the “sell by” date had passed? If so, you’re not alone. Confusing food labels have long led consumers to mistake quality dates for safety warnings, resulting in millions of tons of edible food ending up in the trash every year.

California is taking a major step to address this issue with a new law that eliminates “sell by” labels on food packaging. Instead, manufacturers must use standardized labels: “Best if Used By” to indicate when a product is at its highest quality and “Use By” for products where safety is a concern. The goal is to help shoppers make informed decisions while reducing unnecessary food waste.

Experts say the change could have a significant impact. More than 50 different date labels are currently used across packaged foods, creating widespread confusion. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, misunderstanding these labels contributes to nearly 20% of the nation’s food waste. In California alone, around 6 million tons of unexpired food are discarded each year.

The law has received support from environmental groups, food waste advocates, and grocery retailers, who believe clearer labeling will simplify shopping and keep more food out of landfills. Food banks are also expected to benefit, as fewer donations will be rejected simply because of misunderstood date labels.

California is the first state to standardize food date labels, but it may not be the last. New York has approved similar legislation, other states are considering comparable measures, and a bipartisan bill proposing a national labeling standard is currently pending in Congress.

Sometimes, reducing waste doesn’t require new technology. It simply takes clearer communication.