H.R. 4987
Food Date Labeling Act of 2025
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Food Date Labeling Act of 2025
This bill establishes uniform requirements for quality and discard date phrases (e.g., best by and use by) placed voluntarily on food labels.
Specifically, if a food is labeled with a quality date (i.e., the date after which the quality of the item may deteriorate), the label must include the phrase BEST If Used By or the abbreviation BB. Similarly, if a food is labeled with a discard date (i.e., the date after which the item should not be consumed), the label must include the phrase USE By or the abbreviation UB. Abbreviations may be used only if an item’s packaging is too small to fit the full phrase.
Quality and discard dates must be written in a single, easy-to-read font and placed in a prominent location on an item’s label or package. The phrase or freeze by may be added after a quality or discard date phrase where appropriate.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must promulgate regulations to carry out these provisions and ensure that the uniform phrases are standardized across all food products. HHS and USDA may specify alternative quality and discard date phrases through regulations.
The bill specifies that no state or local government may enforce a requirement related to quality and discard date phrases that differs from the requirements of the bill. The bill does not apply to infant formula, which is subject to separate labeling requirements under current law.
Text of the bill
(a) FDA violations. Section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(z) If the label bears a quality date phrase or discard date phrase that fails to comply with the requirements as specified in sections 3(a) and 3(b) of the Food Date Labeling Act of 2025, or that fails to meet the requirements as specified in section 3(c) of such Act.
(b) Poultry products. Section 4(h) of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 453(h)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (11), by striking or at the end;
(2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
(13) if its labeling is in violation of section 3 of the Food Date Labeling Act of 2025.
(c) Meat products. Section 1(n) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601(n)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (11), by striking or at the end;
(2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
(13) if its labeling is in violation of section 3 of the Food Date Labeling Act of 2025.
(d) Egg products. Section 7(b) of the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1036(b)) is amended in the first sentence by inserting or if its labeling is in violation of section 3 of the Food Date Labeling Act of 2025 before the period at the end.