Food Date Labeling Act of 2023

Hozzl · 2024-03-07T08:15:22Z

Explore the details of House Bill 3159 Food Date Labeling Act of 2023 currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on Health. Stay informed on legislative developments.

3/7/2024, 8:15 AM

Summary of Bill HR 3159

The Food Date Labeling Act of 2023, also known as Bill 118 hr 3159, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to establish a standardized system for date labeling on food products in order to reduce confusion and food waste.

Under this proposed legislation, food products would be required to have a uniform date labeling system that clearly indicates whether the product is at its peak freshness, or if it is past its expiration date and should be discarded. This system would include labels such as "best if used by," "use by," and "sell by" to help consumers understand when a product is still safe to consume.

The Food Date Labeling Act of 2023 aims to address the issue of food waste by providing consumers with clear and consistent information about the freshness and safety of their food products. By reducing confusion around date labeling, this bill seeks to encourage consumers to make more informed decisions about when to consume or discard food items, ultimately leading to less food waste in households and businesses across the country. Overall, the Food Date Labeling Act of 2023 is a bipartisan effort to improve food safety and reduce food waste by establishing a standardized system for date labeling on food products. If passed, this legislation has the potential to benefit both consumers and the environment by promoting clearer communication about the freshness and safety of food items.

Congressional Summary of HR 3159

Food Date Labeling Act of 2023

This bill establishes requirements for the format of quality date and discard date labels on food packaging.

Specifically, the bill requires the quality date on a food label (i.e., the date after which the quality of the item may deteriorate) to include the phrase BEST If Used By or the abbreviation BB. Similarly, the discard date on a food label (i.e., the date after which the item should not be consumed) must include the phrase USE By or the abbreviation UB. Abbreviations may only be used if the full phrase does not fit on the label.

The Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture may specify alternative phrases through regulations.

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Current Status of Bill HR 3159

Bill HR 3159 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since May 9, 2023. Bill HR 3159 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the House on May 9, 2023. Bill HR 3159's most recent activity was Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. as of June 1, 2023

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 3159

Total Number of Sponsors

Democrat Sponsors

Republican Sponsors

Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

Democrat Cosponsors

Republican Cosponsors

Unaffiliated Cosponsors

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 3159

Primary Policy Focus

Health

Potential Impact Areas

Federal preemptionFood supply, safety, and labelingMeat

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 3159

Food Date Labeling Act of 2023Food Date Labeling Act of 2023To establish requirements for quality and discard dates that are voluntarily declared on the food label.

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