H.R. 4987 · 119th Congress
Food Date Labeling Act of 2025
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PingreeSponsor10 cosponsors · 6 D, 4 R
R
Newhouse
JR
D
Riley
JS
D
Schakowsky
PT
D
Tonko
SC
D
Casten
ML
R
Lawler
RT
D
Tlaib
LF
D
Frankel
RB
R
Bresnahan
JV
R
Van Drew1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill establishes uniform requirements for quality and discard date phrases (e.g., best by and use by ) placed voluntarily on food labels.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Aug 15, 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 the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Food Date Labeling Act of 2025
Latest action (Jan 13, 2026): Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
Policy area: Agriculture and Food · Origin: House · Introduced: Aug 15, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.