When did the broader movement toward clear, consumer-facing food dates primarily occur?

During the 1970s.

While localized efforts might have existed earlier, the significant, widespread movement towards implementing clear, consumer-facing dates on food items occurred much later, primarily throughout the 1970s. This surge in demand was driven by shifts in consumer behavior, specifically the increased purchasing of processed foods by consumers in the 1960s, which naturally led to heightened anxiety regarding the freshness and safety of ingredients they were no longer sourcing directly from producers. Surveys conducted during this era, such as one in 1975 showing 89 percent of shoppers favoring dating systems, clearly indicate that the national trend toward open dating was a product of post-1960s consumer culture rather than early 1930s regulation.