By Gina Pace
Source: Food & Wine
Electronic shelf labels — the small digital price tags now appearing in grocery aisles, also known as ESLs — are quietly changing the way we shop for food and stirring up controversy along the way.
Walmart plans to install them in all 4,600 of its United States stores by the end of 2026; unions are urging lawmakers to halt or ban the use of electronic labels; and one state has already passed legislation regulating how digital pricing can be used in supermarkets, with several others now considering similar measures. Supporters say ESLs improve price accuracy and reduce food waste, while critics warn they could accelerate job cuts and open the door for data-driven price manipulation.