The FDA is trying to find out why food companies use the labels they do. Food waste and food safety experts share what these labels mean and how to reduce food waste while making sure food is fresh.

Most Americans occasionally throw away food just because of the date on the label and many always do. But these 'sell by' or 'enjoy' by dates don't indicate the food isn't safe. Here's what they mean.

What commonly used food phrases mean "Best if used by/before" When food is estimated to be at its best in terms of flavor or quality. It is not a safety date. "Sell by" This tells the store how ...

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed sweeping legislation Sunday to slap warning labels on potentially tens of thousands of food ...

A new California law further regulates food safety labels and will take effect in 2026. “Sell by” labels, used by grocers to help rotate stock, will be banned. “Best if used by” indicates ...

The food industry will always oppose mandatory labels, he said. “They don’t like colors and they don’t like warning signs” that are easiest for consumers to understand.

Forget 'best before' labels! Temperature-sensitive 'Bump Tag' reveals if your food is safe to eat in real-time - and could slash food waste by up to 63% ...

Baby food labels will disclose levels of lead and other toxic heavy metals via QR codes, thanks to a California law taking effect January 1. ... safe baby food,” Kumar said.