S. 2541 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jul 30, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStandardizes food date labels nationwide
Ever wondered why expiration dates say different things on different food packages. This bill requires all food companies to use the same phrases on their labels. If a food has a quality date (when it might not taste as good), the label must say "BEST If Used By" or "BB". If it has a discard date (when you shouldn't eat it), the label must say "USE By" or "UB". The dates have to be easy to read and in a noticeable spot on the package.
How it affects you
When you're grocery shopping, you'll see consistent date labels on all food products, making it easier to understand how long food stays fresh or safe. Infant formula is not affected by this change, as it already has its own separate rules. This applies to all food sold across the country, so the same rules work the same way whether you're buying food in any state.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jul 30, 2025)
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 2541
A BILL
Food Date Labeling Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) · Introduced Jul 30, 2025 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jul 30, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.”