California restricts sell-by dates on food, as they are misleading

But "best before" dates—many of them also misleading—remain

Photo: Mark Anthony Ray / Shutterstock

California's restrictions on the wording of dates on food products was signed into law by the governor, making it illegal to stamp "sell by" dates where consumers might see them. The problem is simple: such dates are misleading and encourage waste and repurchase.

Dr. Bradley Rickard, a professor of food and agricultu…