PORTLAND, Maine A Maine congresswoman who has called for uniform food date labeling says new federal guidance on the subject is a step in the right direction.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released labeling guidance on Thursday that recommended the use of "Best if Used By'' labels. The agency says consumers are less likely to find them confusing than other labels such as "Sell By'' and "Use By.''
Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree says inconsistent labels cause confusion that results in unnecessary food waste. She says the USDA's recommendation is encouraging, and the next step is to formalize date labeling with legalization.
Pingree introduced the Food Date Labeling Act earlier this year. The proposal would establish a uniform national system for date labeling and educate consumers about the meaning of new labels.