Food Date Labeling Act of 2025
U.S. Congress · HR4987 ·
Progression
Timing in context
Primary sponsor's contributions received (same period)
Adjacency in time is shown for context; it is not evidence of cause. Funded ≠ false — see the methodology.
What the bill says
Introduced 2025-08-15. Latest action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
Summary (plain-language)
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.
Sponsors
- Chellie Pingree (primary)
- Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.
- Sean Casten
- Lois Frankel
- Michael Lawler
- Dan Newhouse
- Josh Riley
- Janice D. Schakowsky
- Paul Tonko
- Rashida Tlaib
- Jefferson Van Drew
Text versions
- Introduced in House — 2025-08-15 — XML
What analysts say
No nonpartisan analysis on file for this measure yet.
What politicians say
No linked claims or utterances yet — no one on record has cited this measure to justify a public argument.
Action History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 2026-01-13 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. |
| 2026-01-13 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture. |
| 2025-08-15 | Introduced in House |
| 2025-08-15 | 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. |