# 114-hr-5298: Food Date Labeling Act of 2016

114-hr-5298, Food Date Labeling Act of 2016, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME); status Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5298
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-5298
- Congress: 114
- Title: Food Date Labeling Act of 2016
- Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced: 2016-05-19
- Sponsor: Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Food Date Labeling Act of 2016 This bill establishes requirements that: (1) address food waste that occurs when people throw out fresh food because of their confusion over the meaning of expiration dates on food labels and whether or not the food is still safe to eat, and (2) standardize quality date and safety date food labels. Producers, manufacturers, distributors, or retailers that place a date label on food packaging of a product (food labelers) must use the phrases "best if used by" to indicate food quality and the phrase "expires on" to warn of food that may be unsafe to eat after a specified date. While labelers may voluntarily choose to include a quality date on packaging, they must include a safety date on ready-to-eat products. The Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish guidance for food labelers on how to determine quality dates and safety dates for food products. No one may prohibit the sale, donation, or use of a product after the quality date for the product has passed. USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services must educate consumers on the meaning of quality date and safety date food labels.

## Related bills

- 114-hr-6481: Urban Agriculture Production Act of 2016
- 114-hr-6431: Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016
- 114-hr-6428: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit Medicare part B premium increases for 2017.
- 114-hr-6382: No Religious Registry Act
- 114-hr-6340: Presidential Accountability Act
- 114-hr-6231: Making College More Affordable Act

## Sources
- [114-hr-5298 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5298)

## Related
- [114-hr-6481: Urban Agriculture Production Act of 2016](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-6481)
- [114-hr-6431: Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-6431)
- [114-hr-6428: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit Medicare part B premiu…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-6428)
- [114-hr-6382: No Religious Registry Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-6382)
- [114-hr-6340: Presidential Accountability Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-6340)
- [114-hr-6231: Making College More Affordable Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-6231)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5298 (as of 2025-11-18).