This bill, titled the Food Date Labeling Act of 2025, aims to standardize the voluntary use of quality and discard date phrases on food packaging. It defines a quality date phrase as indicating when a product's quality may begin to deteriorate while remaining wholesome, and a discard date phrase as the point after which a product should not be consumed due to the end of its estimated shelf life. The legislation applies to products under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture (meat, poultry, egg products) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (other foods).

For quality dates, the bill mandates the uniform phrase "BEST If Used By," or its abbreviation "BB" if space is limited. Similarly, for discard dates, the required uniform phrase is "USE By," or "UB" for smaller packaging. Manufacturers retain the discretion to decide whether to include these date phrases on their food products. All dates must be displayed in an easy-to-read, conspicuous manner, using a month and year or month, day, and year format.

The bill permits the use of advanced technologies like QR codes or smart labels in conjunction with or in lieu of the uniform phrases. It also allows for the addition of "or freeze by" to either date phrase. Importantly, the Act preempts states from establishing different or additional requirements for these date phrases, or from prohibiting the sale of food based solely on a quality date. However, states may still prohibit the sale or donation of foods based on the passage of a discard date, and infant formula is explicitly excluded from these provisions.

The administering Secretaries are tasked with providing consumer education on the meaning of these date phrases within two years of enactment. Failure to comply with the established labeling requirements will result in the food product being deemed misbranded under relevant federal acts. The Act and its amendments will apply to food products labeled two years after its enactment, allowing time for industry adjustment and regulatory finalization.