New Yorkers aren\u2019t sure, lawmakers say. But a proposed food-labeling bill<\/a> is trying to fix that.\u00a0<\/p>\n First introduced back in 2025, the state Legislature is aiming to fix a few things: decode food date labels for shoppers, stop food waste, and save New Yorkers money.<\/p>\n In fact, the bill claims that these simple changes can \u201creduce food waste by approximately 20%.\u201d And as food costs increase<\/a>, the switches may help families save money that gets tossed right in the trash from expiration dates.<\/p>\n If the bill passes, companies using date labels would be required to have only two clear phrases: \u201cuse by\u201d and \u201cbest used by.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUse by\u201d would be a safety date \u2014 when food may no longer be safe to eat.<\/p>\n \u201cBest if used by\u201d would be a quality date \u2014 when food may be at its best taste-wise, but is still safe to consume.<\/p>\n And shoppers can say goodbye to \u201csell by.\u201d Since the phrase is used for store inventory purposes, Lawmakers said consumers don\u2019t need to see it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Additionally, the Department of Agriculture would be required to develop educational materials explaining the meaning of food date labels to consumers. All stores selling food would also need to display signage with those new meanings.<\/p>\n The bill has made its way through the Senate and is now in the hands of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is reviewing it. Hochul will then have until the end of this year to act \u2014 or it expires.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/prime-beef-top-loin-sirloin-132064243.jpg\")
A New York strip steak from Costco with the price and sell-by date Kristina Blokhin \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/young-woman-grocery-shopping-supermarket-132064222.jpg\")
A woman grocery shopping in a supermarket for fresh fruits progressman \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n