Up through version 2016f, the specification was...
# For companies who don't want to put time zone specification in
# their installation procedures. When users run date, they'll get the message.
# Also useful for the "comp.sources" version.
# Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT
Zone Factory 0 - "Local time zone must be set--see zic manual page"
...while since 2016g the specification has been...
# For distributors who don't want to put time zone specification in
# their installation procedures. Users that run 'date' will get the
# time zone abbreviation "-00", indicating that the actual time zone
# is unknown.
# Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT
Zone Factory 0 - -00
While the old version may have led to a more instructive result from the first command line invocation of "date," the new version produces result that is standard conforming.