Donating surplus food from events is a no-brainer to me. It keeps perfectly good food out of the landfill, and it helps feed our neighbors in our communities. Why wouldn’t you donate food?
Sometimes caterers and restaurants answer that question by saying, “It’s a liability issue.”
Today I want to tell you about a federal law that protects food donors from liability, so you can give to your heart’s content!
The Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act was signed into law on Oct. 1, 1996, with the goal of encouraging companies and organizations to donate healthy food that would otherwise go to waste.
This law protects food donors from criminal and civil liability when you donate to a non-profit organization, even if food donated in good faith ends up causing harm to the recipient.
The law applies in all 50 U.S. states, so you don’t need to worry about different laws if you work in multiple states.
The full text of the law (it’s short) can be read on the Feeding America website, and many other sources if you do a Google search.
With the Bill Emerson Act in mind, I hope you consider starting a food donation program for your events in 2019, if you don’t already have one.
If you’re based in central Indiana, Second Helpings is a great non-profit organization that is well-equipped to accept prepared foods from events.
Do you already donate leftover food? Will knowing about this law cause you to rethink what your business can do? Leave a comment and let me know!
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer or a legal expert. For detailed information about how this act applies to your business, please consult a lawyer.
Need help organizing your food donation? I’ll help you coordinate with a non-profit recipient, train catering staff on the donation process, and measure your results. Learn more >>