California bans ‘sell by’ food labels to cut food waste

Experts say the labels act as guides for retailers on how long to display products on the shelves but aren’t indicators of whether they are still safe to consume.

SAN FRANCISCO — In Kimberley Kausen’s home, a passed “sell by” date on a jug of milk means different things to different family members. For her daughter, it means the jug belongs in the trash. For her husband, it means the milk is still good for a few more days.

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Kausen, a chef and cooking teacher in Irvine, California, is more discerning and often uses her sense of smell before deciding what to do with the milk.

“I’ll put some thought into it, and if we’re talking about meat and poultry, I’m very cautious about that and for sure will do the smell test and the touch test,” she said.