# Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021

This bill makes it easier and safer for businesses to donate food to people in need by expanding legal protections and clarifying the rules around food donations. Right now, many grocery stores, restaurants, farms, and other food businesses worry about getting sued if someone gets sick from donated food, even if the food was perfectly safe. This bill removes some of those barriers so more food can reach hungry people instead of going to waste.

The main change is that the bill allows businesses to donate food at a reduced price—not just for free—and still get legal protection. Currently, the law only protects donations given at no cost. Under this bill, businesses can charge a small amount to cover their costs of handling and distributing the food (like labor and transportation) and still be protected from lawsuits. This matters because it makes food donation more practical for businesses that can't afford to give everything away for free. The bill also expands who can donate directly to individuals in need, including grocery stores, restaurants, schools, colleges, farms, and catering companies. These "qualified direct donors" now have clear legal protection when they give food directly to hungry people, as long as the food appears safe and wholesome and they're acting in good faith.

To make sure this all works smoothly, the bill requires the Department of Agriculture to issue clear guidelines within six months explaining exactly what quality and labeling standards donated food must meet to qualify for legal protection. This gives businesses clear rules to follow so they know exactly what they can safely donate. Overall, the bill is designed to reduce food waste, help feed more people, and give businesses confidence that they won't face legal trouble for trying to help their communities.

Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021

McGovern, James P.

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 <ul> <li>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</li> <li>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.</li> </ul> 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.