diff --git a/api/scpca_portal/models/computed_file.py b/api/scpca_portal/models/computed_file.py
index 537339a1..713c0429 100644
--- a/api/scpca_portal/models/computed_file.py
+++ b/api/scpca_portal/models/computed_file.py
@@ -78,12 +78,6 @@ class OutputFileTypes:
     def __str__(self):
         return f"Computed file for '{self.project or self.sample}'"
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def get_readme_contents(readme_path: str) -> str:
-        with open(readme_path, "r") as readme_file:
-            date = utils.get_today_string()
-            return f"Generated on: {date}\n\n{readme_file.read()}"
-
     @classmethod
     def get_project_multiplexed_file(cls, project, sample_to_file_mapping, workflow_versions):
         """Prepares a ready for saving single data file of project's combined multiplexed data."""
@@ -97,9 +91,9 @@ def get_project_multiplexed_file(cls, project, sample_to_file_mapping, workflow_
         )
 
         with ZipFile(computed_file.zip_file_path, "w") as zip_file:
-            zip_file.writestr(
+            zip_file.write(
+                ComputedFile.README_MULTIPLEXED_FILE_PATH,
                 ComputedFile.OUTPUT_README_FILE_NAME,
-                ComputedFile.get_readme_contents(ComputedFile.README_MULTIPLEXED_FILE_PATH),
             )
             zip_file.write(
                 project.output_multiplexed_metadata_file_path, computed_file.metadata_file_name
@@ -132,9 +126,9 @@ def get_project_single_cell_file(cls, project, sample_to_file_mapping, workflow_
         )
 
         with ZipFile(computed_file.zip_file_path, "w") as zip_file:
-            zip_file.writestr(
+            zip_file.write(
+                ComputedFile.README_FILE_PATH,
                 ComputedFile.OUTPUT_README_FILE_NAME,
-                ComputedFile.get_readme_contents(ComputedFile.README_FILE_PATH),
             )
             zip_file.write(
                 project.output_single_cell_metadata_file_path, computed_file.metadata_file_name
@@ -167,9 +161,9 @@ def get_project_spatial_file(cls, project, sample_to_file_mapping, workflow_vers
         )
 
         with ZipFile(computed_file.zip_file_path, "w") as zip_file:
-            zip_file.writestr(
+            zip_file.write(
+                ComputedFile.README_SPATIAL_FILE_PATH,
                 ComputedFile.OUTPUT_README_FILE_NAME,
-                ComputedFile.get_readme_contents(ComputedFile.README_SPATIAL_FILE_PATH),
             )
             zip_file.write(
                 project.output_spatial_metadata_file_path, computed_file.metadata_file_name
@@ -211,9 +205,9 @@ def get_sample_multiplexed_file(
 
         if not os.path.exists(computed_file.zip_file_path):
             with ZipFile(computed_file.zip_file_path, "w") as zip_file:
-                zip_file.writestr(
+                zip_file.write(
+                    ComputedFile.README_MULTIPLEXED_FILE_PATH,
                     ComputedFile.OUTPUT_README_FILE_NAME,
-                    ComputedFile.get_readme_contents(ComputedFile.README_MULTIPLEXED_FILE_PATH),
                 )
                 zip_file.write(
                     sample.output_multiplexed_metadata_file_path,
@@ -242,9 +236,9 @@ def get_sample_single_cell_file(cls, sample, libraries, workflow_versions):
 
         file_paths = []
         with ZipFile(computed_file.zip_file_path, "w") as zip_file:
-            zip_file.writestr(
+            zip_file.write(
+                ComputedFile.README_FILE_PATH,
                 ComputedFile.OUTPUT_README_FILE_NAME,
-                ComputedFile.get_readme_contents(ComputedFile.README_FILE_PATH),
             )
             zip_file.write(
                 sample.output_single_cell_metadata_file_path,
@@ -285,9 +279,9 @@ def get_sample_spatial_file(cls, sample, libraries, workflow_versions):
 
         file_paths = []
         with ZipFile(computed_file.zip_file_path, "w") as zip_file:
-            zip_file.writestr(
+            zip_file.write(
+                ComputedFile.README_SPATIAL_FILE_PATH,
                 ComputedFile.OUTPUT_README_FILE_NAME,
-                ComputedFile.get_readme_contents(ComputedFile.README_SPATIAL_FILE_PATH),
             )
             zip_file.write(
                 sample.output_spatial_metadata_file_path,
diff --git a/api/scpca_portal/models/project.py b/api/scpca_portal/models/project.py
index 49188f49..ad514c86 100644
--- a/api/scpca_portal/models/project.py
+++ b/api/scpca_portal/models/project.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 from django.db import models
 
-from scpca_portal import common
+from scpca_portal import common, utils
 from scpca_portal.models.base import TimestampedModel
 from scpca_portal.models.computed_file import ComputedFile
 from scpca_portal.models.contact import Contact
@@ -451,7 +451,11 @@ def create_single_cell_readme_file(self):
             readme_template = readme_template_file.read()
         with open(ComputedFile.README_FILE_PATH, "w") as readme_file:
             readme_file.write(
-                readme_template.format(project_accession=self.scpca_id, project_url=self.url)
+                readme_template.format(
+                    project_accession=self.scpca_id,
+                    project_url=self.url,
+                    date=utils.get_today_string(),
+                )
             )
 
     def create_multiplexed_readme_file(self):
@@ -460,7 +464,11 @@ def create_multiplexed_readme_file(self):
             readme_template = readme_template_file.read()
         with open(ComputedFile.README_MULTIPLEXED_FILE_PATH, "w") as readme_file:
             readme_file.write(
-                readme_template.format(project_accession=self.scpca_id, project_url=self.url)
+                readme_template.format(
+                    project_accession=self.scpca_id,
+                    project_url=self.url,
+                    date=utils.get_today_string(),
+                )
             )
 
     def create_spatial_readme_file(self):
@@ -469,7 +477,11 @@ def create_spatial_readme_file(self):
             readme_template = readme_template_file.read()
         with open(ComputedFile.README_SPATIAL_FILE_PATH, "w") as readme_file:
             readme_file.write(
-                readme_template.format(project_accession=self.scpca_id, project_url=self.url)
+                readme_template.format(
+                    project_accession=self.scpca_id,
+                    project_url=self.url,
+                    date=utils.get_today_string(),
+                )
             )
 
     def get_bulk_rna_seq_sample_ids(self):