Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021

Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021

This bill expands liability protections for the donation of food and grocery products.

Specifically, the bill expands the liability protections to include donations of an apparently fit grocery product or apparently wholesome food

• for which the recipient is charged a good Samaritan reduced price that is no greater than the cost of handling, administering, and distributing the food or product; or
• that is donated directly to a needy individual by a retail grocer, wholesaler, agricultural producer, restaurant, caterer, school food authority, or institution of higher education.

The Department of Agriculture must issue regulations that clarify the quality and labeling standards that food products donated under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act must meet to be eligible for liability protection.

Bill 117 HR 6251, also known as the Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021, aims to improve and streamline the process of donating excess food to those in need. The bill seeks to incentivize food donation by providing liability protections to food donors, including individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations, who donate food in good faith.

The legislation also includes provisions to encourage the donation of surplus agricultural products by expanding tax deductions for farmers and ranchers who donate their excess produce to food banks and other charitable organizations. Additionally, the bill aims to reduce food waste by promoting the use of technology and other innovative solutions to better match food donations with the needs of food banks and other organizations serving vulnerable populations.

Overall, the Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021 is designed to make it easier for individuals and businesses to donate excess food, while also helping to address food insecurity and reduce food waste in the United States. The bill has received bipartisan support in Congress and is seen as a positive step towards improving food donation practices and helping those in need.