TO:                         Members of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee

FROM:                   Hilary Chebra, Manager, Government Affairs, CCSNJ

RE:                         S- 418 (Smith/Greenstein)

DATE:                     December 15, 2022

The Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ) would like to voice our concerns with S- 418 (Smith/Greenstein), which establishes standards for food date labeling. The bill also requires the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) to establish a public education program and promulgate guidelines related to food safety.

 As written, this bill would mandate new food date labeling requirements for food manufacturers. The CCSNJ appreciates the importance of ensuring consumers understand food labeling and safety, however this bill will create an inconsistent labeling system that will inevitably confuse consumers. S- 418 (Smith/Greenstein) would create a piecemeal approach to food labeling standards that is burdensome and costly for manufacturer’s compliance. Currently, food manufacturers create their labeling for shipping nationally and this bill would establish different standards for New Jersey, forcing manufacturers to change their labeling to meet different state requirements, which can slow down the manufacturing process and ultimately create supply chain issues.

Additionally, there are currently national guidelines that manufactures use to create standard labeling. These guidelines were created by industry leaders through a voluntary, national program that has received the support of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). This program has allowed for flexibility, allowing manufacturers to react to consumer feedback and make changes to ensure consumers understand the labeling, therefore helping to reduce food waste.

While we appreciate the sponsor’s intent to reduce food waste, this bill could do just the opposite as it will create another burdensome mandate for food manufacturers in New Jersey, which could ultimately lead to more inconsistencies in food labeling. 

For these reasons, the CCSNJ respectfully opposes S- 418 (Smith/Greenstein).