We Deserve Healthy Communities

Environmental Advocates NY (EANY), is urging the New York State Legislature to pass the Food Date Labeling Act (A.7291A/S.7618A) to establish a clear, standardized, and science-driven food date labeling system in New York. Currently, there is little to no federal regulation governing most food date labels (with exceptions for shellfish and baby formula). As a result, consumers are left to navigate confusing phrases like “Sell By,” “Best By,” and “Expires On.” This inconsistency leads many New Yorkers to discard perfectly safe, wholesome food because they are unsure whether it is still safe to eat. If passed, the Food Date Labeling Act would allow families across the state to save roughly $3,000 annually from food that would have otherwise been wasted, according to the EPA. At a time when households are grappling with rising grocery prices and an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, reducing preventable food waste is a practical way to ease financial strain.

Savings do not stop at the household level. Standardized date labeling would generate significant economic benefits across our state and throughout the food system. According to research from ReFed, implementing a reliable and standardized labeling framework could potentially unlock well over a billion dollars in net financial benefits across consumer, retail, food service, and manufacturing sectors. Inconsistent labeling also creates inefficiency for businesses who manage food inventory and food donation programs.

Beyond the economic impacts, food waste is also a serious environmental and climate issue. When wasted food is sent to landfills, it decomposes and generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas that significantly accelerates climate change due to its high heat retention capacity, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Reducing food waste is widely recognized as one of the most cost-effective and immediate climate solutions available, cutting emissions while conserving water, energy, and labor used to produce our food. Passing the FDLA this session is a smart, and tangible step toward reducing waste, lowering emissions, supporting food donation, and supporting the needs of New Yorkers.

Environmental Advocates NY (EANY), is urging the New York State Legislature to pass the Food Date Labeling Act (A.7291A/S.7618A) to establish a clear, standardized, and science-driven food date labeling system in New York. Currently, there is little to no federal regulation governing most food date labels (with exceptions for shellfish and baby formula). As a result, consumers are left to navigate confusing phrases like “Sell By,” “Best By,” and “Expires On.” This inconsistency leads many New Yorkers to discard perfectly safe, wholesome food because they are unsure whether it is still safe to eat. If passed, the Food Date Labeling Act would allow families across the state to save roughly $3,000 annually from food that would have otherwise been wasted, according to the EPA. At a time when households are grappling with rising grocery prices and an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, reducing preventable food waste is a practical way to ease financial strain.

Savings do not stop at the household level. Standardized date labeling would generate significant economic benefits across our state and throughout the food system. According to research from ReFed, implementing a reliable and standardized labeling framework could potentially unlock well over a billion dollars in net financial benefits across consumer, retail, food service, and manufacturing sectors. Inconsistent labeling also creates inefficiency for businesses who manage food inventory and food donation programs.

Beyond the economic impacts, food waste is also a serious environmental and climate issue. When wasted food is sent to landfills, it decomposes and generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas that significantly accelerates climate change due to its high heat retention capacity, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Reducing food waste is widely recognized as one of the most cost-effective and immediate climate solutions available, cutting emissions while conserving water, energy, and labor used to produce our food. Passing the FDLA this session is a smart, and tangible step toward reducing waste, lowering emissions, supporting food donation, and supporting the needs of New Yorkers.

Pass the Food Date Labeling Act

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Subject:

As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to support and pass the Food Date Labeling Act (A.7291A/S.7618A).

Families across the U.S. are collectively wasting billions of dollars on food each year, often as a result of improper food labeling causing its premature disposal. Data from ReFed suggests that a roughly $1.23 billion in net profits could be realized across American consumer, retail, food service, and manufacturing sectors if this standardization of food date labeling were to be enacted. With no federal standard governing most food date labeling, consumers are left to interpret unclear phrases like “Sell By,” “Best By,” and “Use By,” often leading them to throw away perfectly safe and edible food.

At a time when households across our state are facing rising grocery costs and a broader cost-of-living crisis, New York must take practical steps to reduce unnecessary waste and ease financial strain; as established by the EPA, the average American family loses roughly $3,000 dollars annually on average due to food-waste. The Food Date Labeling Act would establish a clear, standardized, and science-based labeling system, helping consumers make informed decisions and keep wholesome food out of landfills.

Reducing food waste is also a climate solution. When food is discarded and sent to landfills, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that significantly accelerates climate change. Cutting food waste is one of the most cost-effective and immediate strategies available to reduce emissions while strengthening food security.

I urge you to co-sponsor and help pass the Food Date Labeling Act this legislative session. Thank you for your leadership and consideration.

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