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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 2 OctOber 2024
Is the food in the fridge still good? California wants to end the

guessing game

By TRÂN NGUYỄN not immediately clear if the
Associated Press new law and the massive
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California market will push
— California wants to help companies to standardize
end the everyday house- food labeling for all prod-
hold debate over whether ucts in the country.
the food in the fridge is still “California has such a
good to eat. large market share that
Food labels that say “sell we do think this will push
by” or “best before” are manufacturers,” said Nina
misleading because they Sevilla with Natural Re-
have no universal meaning sources Defense Council,
under current laws. Now who also sponsored the bill.
California wants to crack “The hope is that California
down on such practices, serves as a model either for
bidding to help consum- other states or ultimately to
ers stop playing guessing push action at the federal
games with produce and level.”
other items in their fridges. Shopper Jasmine Acosta,
The state is the first to ban 23, said she believes most
food labels such as “sell A customer looks at refrigerated items at a Grocery Outlet store in Pleasanton, Calif., Thursday, people don’t understand
by” or “best before” under Sept. 15, 2022. Associated Press the current language used
a law signed by Gov. Gavin on food labels.
Newsom. The legislation these labels should include, require the use of “Best if the governor’s desk in 2016. “It’s confusing to most
signed by Newsom over the the stamps have led to Used By” label to signal Then-Gov. Jerry Brown also consumers,” Acosta told
weekend aims at reducing consumer confusion and peak quality and “Use By” signed a bill in 2017 to es- The Associated Press as
both food waste and the nearly 20% of the nation’s label for product safety, an tablish voluntary uniform- she shopped Tuesday at
state’s climate-warming food waste, according to approach recommended labeling protocol but few a Smart & Final store in Los
emissions. the Food and Drug Admin- by federal agencies. The companies ended up fol- Angeles.
There are more than 50 dif- istration. In California, that’s law provides exemption for lowing the honor system. She used to work at a small
ferent date labels on pack- about 6 million tons of unex- eggs, beer and other malt “Widespread implemen- grocery store, so she’s de-
aged food sold in stores, pired food that’s tossed in beverages. tation that was basically veloped the habit of exam-
but the information is largely the trash each year. The California law comes committed to by industry ining her meat purchases
unregulated and does not The new law “is a monu- as similar efforts around the wasn’t happening,” said Er- for smell or discoloration
relate to food safety. “Sell mental step to keep money country remain halted at ica Parker with Californians before using the food. A
by” dates, for example, of- in the pockets of consumers the federal level. State law- Against Waste, who spon- sell-by date helps the gro-
ten act as a guide for stores while helping the environ- makers and advocates said sored the bill. “Food waste cer adhere to a “first in first
to pull products from the ment and the planet,” she they also spent the last de- rates are not decreasing, out” method for its prod-
shelf and not as an indica- added in her statement. cade trying to pass legisla- they’re increasing.” ucts and get ready for the
tor of whether the product The law is set to take effect tion to reduce food labeling Supporters hope the legis- next shipment arrival, but
is still safe to consume. in July 2026, establishing a confusion and cut down on lation could pave the way doesn’t mean the food has
With no federal regulations new standard for food la- food waste. A similar mea- for new food labeling stan- gone bad, according to
dictating what information beling in California. It will sure died before reaching dards in the U.S., though it’s Acosta.q

Historic ship could soon become the world’s largest artificial reef

By KATE PAYNE once ferried immigrants, after a Florida county inked ciated Press reported from boats and hotels.
Associated Press/Report for Hollywood stars and heads a tentative deal to turn the aboard the vessel. “To have an opportunity to
America of state may soon find its fi- ship into the world’s largest But the ship has been in a have the SS United States
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — nal resting place at the bot- artificial reef. race against time to find a right here by our shore is a
A historic ocean liner that tom of the Gulf of Mexico, The contract approved new home, with conserva- heritage and a legacy that
Tuesday by officials in Oka- tionists scrambling to find is generational,” said Oka-
loosa County on Florida’s an alternative to scrapping loosa County Commission-
coastal Panhandle is con- the massive ocean liner, er Mel Ponder. “I’m very
tingent upon the resolution which is more than 100 feet excited for not only what
of court-imposed media- (30 meters) longer than the it does for the diving com-
tion, after a judge ordered Titanic. munity, but also the fishing
the storied but aging ship The solution: sink it on pur- community, but the com-
to vacate its berth at a pier pose and create what munity at large.”
in Philadelphia, following a supporters hope will be a The deal to buy the ship,
yearslong dispute over rent barnacle-encrusted star in which officials said could
and dockage fees. Okaloosa County’s con- cost more than $10 million,
The largest passenger ship stellation of more than 500 could close in a matter of
ever built in the U.S., the SS artificial reefs, making it weeks, pending court me-
United States shattered a a signature diving attrac- diation. The lengthy pro-
record for the fastest trans- tion that could generate cess of cleaning, transport-
atlantic crossing by a pas- millions of dollars a year in ing and sinking the vessel is
S.S. United States is moored on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, senger liner on its maiden local tourism spending for expected to take at least
Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024.
Associated Press voyage in 1952, The Asso- scuba shops, charter fishing 1.5 years.q