Reduce Wasted Food By Feeding Hungry People
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Feed Hungry People is the second tier of EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy. In 2014, over 38 million tons of wasted food were thrown away in the United States. At the same time, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 13 percent of American households had difficulty providing enough food for all their members due to a lack of resources at some time during 2015.1 In many cases, the food tossed into our nation’s landfills is wholesome, edible food.
We can be leaders in our communities by collecting unspoiled, healthy food and donating it to our neighbors in need. By donating food, we’re feeding people, not landfills, supporting local communities, and saving money.
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Getting Started
Anyone Can Be a Food Donor
Large manufacturers, supermarket chains, wholesalers, farmers, food brokers, and organized community food drives typically give food to food banks. Restaurants, caterers, corporate dining rooms, hotels, and other food establishments promptly distribute perishable and prepared foods to hungry people in their communities. Many local food banks will pick up food donations free of charge, saving you warehouse storage and disposal costs.
Legal Basics
Corporate donors are protected from liability under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (PDF). Under this Act, as long as the donor has not acted with negligence or intentional misconduct, the company is not liable for damage incurred as the result of illness. Learn more from the University of Arkansas' Food Recovery – a legal guide Exit(12pp, 8.44MB).
Safety Basics
Many non-perishable and unspoiled perishable foods can be donated to local food banks, soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters if the transaction is managed properly. Check with your local food bank or food rescue operation (soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters) to find out what items they will accept. Learn more about Food Safety Basics (PDF) Exit (83 pp, 941K, 2007) or contact your state or local health department for more information on how to safely donate food.
Tax Benefits
There are potential tax benefits for companies that donate food. See Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic’s Tax Deduction for Food Donation, a Legal GuideExitfor information on enhanced tax deductions available to businesses donating food.
Food Donation Success Stories
Disclaimer of Endorsement: Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
Kroger
Kroger reduces the amount of food waste in its grocery stores through its Perishable Donations Partnership (PDP) program. Through the PDP program, safe, wholesome meat, produce, eggs and dairy products are donated to local food banks that have the capacity to safely handle and distribute fresh food.
In 2015, Kroger donated 56 million pounds of fresh food to local food banks. It takes the dedication and consistent execution of thousands of Kroger associates to make this happen. Working in tandem with its internal food safety experts, Kroger continuously looks for opportunities to add new categories of fresh product that can be donated safely through the program. For more information, visit Kroger's website on fighting hungerExit.
Food Forward
In 2014, Food Forward's work ensured that 4.7 million pounds of perfectly good fruits and vegetables did not go to waste and, in 2015, that number shot up to 8.8 million pounds of produce recovered. Not only is that food being saved from the landfill, it is then being diverted to 300 hunger relief agencies across Southern California. Learn more about Food Forward's efforts.
Savor. . .Chicago - McCormick Place South
In 2014, SAVOR….Chicago – McCormick Place South, the exclusive food and beverage provider at McCormick Place donated over 41,000 pounds of food to local charities including Pacific Garden Missions. More than 37 tons of food have been donated to local charities since it began its work at McCormick Place. Read more about Savor. . . Chicago's work.
Source of Statistics
- United States Department of Agriculture, Household Food Security in the United States in 2013