An Act decreasing food waste by standardizing the date labeling of food

This Massachusetts bill aims to reduce food waste by requiring standardized phrases on food packaging to clarify when items are best eaten versus when they become unsafe. It mandates that voluntary quality dates use the phrase "best if used by," while mandatory safety dates for ready-to-eat products must say "expires on." The state's public health commissioner will define which products require safety dates, establish guidelines for setting these dates, and educate consumers on their meanings. Additionally, the law explicitly states that food can still be sold or donated after the quality date passes, ensuring that edible items are not unnecessarily discarded.