My bill, H.2205, u003cemu003eAn Act decreasing food waste by standardizing the date labeling of foodu003c/emu003e, would standardize date labeling on food by establishing a quality date and a safety date. The quality date would indicate the date after which the quality of the food may have deteriorated, but it would still be safe to eat. The safety date would indicate the date after which consumption of certain high-risk foods may risk foodborne illness. Currently, there’s no distinction between the two, and some municipalities have bans on selling or donating food past its expiration date. [That leads to] people and retailers throwing out food that is otherwise fine, instead of consuming or donating it, because it has passed its expiration date. By differentiating between the two and allowing for the sale and donation of food that has passed its quality date but not the safety date, this bill will help reduce food waste and alleviate food insecurity.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe federal bills, H.R.3159 and S.1484, were filed by Representative Pingree and Senator Blumenthal respectively. They would also create two standard date labels: a safety date being called the “discard date” and a “quality date.” Food passed its quality date, but not its discard date, could be sold or donated. These bills, if passed, would reduce food waste across the entire country, rather than just in Massachusetts, and it would be a much better policy to standardize at the federal level, so manufacturers and others have one unified labeling standard to adhere to.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMy bill, H.2205, was heard by the Joint Committee on Public Health in June, but it hasn’t moved out of the Committee yet. At this stage, it’s important for advocacy groups and the public to let their legislators know about the importance of this bill and encourage them to support it.