H.R. 5298 · 114th Congress
Food Date Labeling Act of 2016
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 114th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
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PingreeSponsorNo cosponsors.
This bill establishes requirements that: (1) address food waste that occurs when people throw out fresh food because of their confusion over the meaning of expiration dates on food labels and whether or not the food is still safe to eat, and (2) standardize quality date and safety date food labels.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · May 19, 2016
Food Date Labeling Act of 2016
This bill establishes requirements that: (1) address food waste that occurs when people throw out fresh food because of their confusion over the meaning of expiration dates on food labels and whether or not the food is still safe to eat, and (2) standardize quality date and safety date food labels. Producers, manufacturers, distributors, or retailers that place a date label on food packaging of a product (food labelers) must use the phrases "best if used by" to indicate food quality and the phrase "expires on" to warn of food that may be unsafe to eat after a specified date.
While labelers may voluntarily choose to include a quality date on packaging, they must include a safety date on ready-to-eat products.
The Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish guidance for food labelers on how to determine quality dates and safety dates for food products.
No one may prohibit the sale, donation, or use of a product after the quality date for the product has passed.
USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services must educate consumers on the meaning of quality date and safety date food labels.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Food Date Labeling Act of 2016
Latest action (May 19, 2016): Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Policy area: Health · Origin: House · Introduced: May 19, 2016
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.