{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/usda-issues-new-guidance-food-date-labeling", "USDA issues new guidance on food date labeling", "2016-12-19", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree applauded guidance the USDA released yesterday encouraging manufacturers to use a \u201cBest if used by\u201d date label.\u00a0\n\u201cIt\u2019s estimated that 30 percent of the food consumers purchase gets thrown out. \u00a0Much of that waste has to do with confusion over the meaning of a barrage of inconsistent date labels\u2014\u2018Best by,\u2019 \u2018Sell by,\u2019 and \u2018Use by\u2019 among them. The USDA\u2019s new guidance is welcome progress toward reducing consumer confusion by encouraging manufacturers to adopt a consistent standard,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cThe next step is to formalize date labeling phrasing in legislation, to establish a uniform system, and make sure states do not restrict the donation of food that has passed its date. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to advance legislation that reduces both food waste and consumer confusion around date labels.\u201d\nEarlier this year, Pingree introduced the Food Date Labeling Act. \u00a0The bill establishes a uniform national system for date labeling that clearly distinguishes between foods that bear a label indicating peak quality from foods that bear a label indicating they may become unsafe to consume past the date. This bill would also ensure that food is allowed to be sold or donated after its quality date, and educate consumers about the meaning of new labels so that they can make better economic and safety decisions.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/usda-issues-new-guidance-food-date-labeling"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.646833959966898, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}