Food Waste x Legislation: What is Going On?

With the growing issue of food waste, how are our politicians tackling the issue?

In the United States in 2019, 30 bills addressing food waste were introduced in 12 different states. In 19 states, there is a bill that protects the charge fee that food banks administer to recipients. In 7 other states, donations that go to people in need are protected and in another three states, there is a protection on food that is not in compliance with labeling requirements. In Massachusetts, the state passed a bill that gives protection to food that is donated but has expired.

Not only are there statewide regulations, there is also a national law called the "Emerson Good Samaritan Act" which protects donors and recovery organizations from liability in regards to the conditions and age of donated food.

This growing issue is not stopping. It will only continue.

To tackle the issue of food waste in my community, I worked with state legislatures in Massachusetts to help get passed a law that gives a tax incentive to food providers like resturants and grocery stores who donate their uneaten food. With this, businesses can take advantage of saving money while also saving the environment and being moral about their uneaten food.

Laws like this can be seen all over the country and the world. Together, we need to overcome food waste at a local level and a governmental level. With this, the environmental and moral issue of food waste will be tackled.