LOS ANGELES — California on Wednesday implemented a set of new state laws affecting food labeling standards and wage levels, part of a broader regulatory package taking effect on July 1, 2026, according to state officials and legislative records.
One of the most significant changes is a statewide overhaul of packaged food date labeling under Assembly Bill 660, which requires manufacturers, processors and retailers to replace more than 50 existing date phrases with standardized terms. Under the law, only “BEST if Used by” or “BEST if Used or Frozen by” may be used to indicate product quality dates, while “USE by” or “USE by or Freeze by” must be used for safety-related expiration dates, according to legislative summaries and legal analyses of the statute.
The measure also prohibits consumer-facing “sell by” dates on food products manufactured on or after July 1, though coded “sell by” labels may still be used internally for inventory management. Infant formula, eggs and certain alcoholic beverages are exempt from the requirements, according to state law documentation.
Supporters of the labeling changes have said the standardization is intended to reduce consumer confusion and food waste by replacing inconsistent terminology across the food industry. The law follows earlier voluntary guidance that had seen limited compliance among manufacturers, according to legislative analysis cited in legal filings.
Separately, wage adjustments tied to local minimum wage ordinances also took effect across multiple California jurisdictions on July 1, with increases varying by city and county. Statewide reporting indicates that several municipalities in Los Angeles County and the Bay Area implemented updated wage floors as part of previously scheduled annual adjustments, though exact rates differ by locality.
Officials said the wage changes are part of ongoing local efforts to align pay levels with cost-of-living benchmarks. Employers in affected jurisdictions are required to comply immediately, with enforcement handled through local labor agencies.
The July 1 package of laws also includes related consumer and workplace regulations, such as expanded food allergen disclosure requirements for large restaurant chains and updated rules governing advertising volume standards on streaming platforms, according to state legislative summaries and media reports.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture and local labor agencies are expected to oversee implementation and compliance monitoring over the coming weeks, with no further statewide rollouts announced for the immediate term.
