Part of the Food Policy Snapshot Series
Policy name: Excess Food Law (Senate Bill S4176A/Assembly Bill A4398A)
Overview: New York State has passed a new law that requires supermarkets and grocery stores to donate excess food to charity.
Location: New York State
Population: 19.3 million
Food policy category: Food insecurity, food-waste management
Program goals: To reduce food insecurity and hunger.
How it works: Starting in late June of this year, supermarkets and grocery stores will be required to donate food to non-profit or religious organizations such as food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens that provide free food to the hungry. The food must be safe for consumption but not sold by the stores because of labeling, appearance, or surplus. Further guidelines will be added but have not yet been specified.
Receiving organizations must pick up these food donations from the stores.
Progress to date: The bill was introduced in March 2019, passed by the New York State Assembly in February and by the Senate in July 2020. It was signed into law in December and will go into effect 180 days after signing, on June 21, 2021.
Why it is important: Food insecurity affected more than 50 million Americans in 2020, an increase of 13 million since 2018. Much of this increase was due to job losses and the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, almost one-third of New Yorkers reported not having enough food to eat, and 11 percent reported accessing free food from distribution sites such as food pantries and schools. Without food distribution sites, there would likely be even more New Yorkers struggling with food insecurity. Those sites rely on donations because most are non-profit organizations with minimal budgets for purchases.
Furthermore, between 30 and 40 percent of all food in the United States is wasted. Eliminating food waste worldwide could feed two billion people, more than double the number of individuals who are currently experiencing food insecurity and hunger.
Therefore, requiring stores to donate excess food to local distribution sites will help mitigate both food waste and food insecurity.
Program/Policy initiated: The law was signed by Governor Cuomo on December 23, 2020.
Point of contact:
Senator Pete Harckham
Phone: (518) 455-2340
Email: harckham@nysenate.gov
Assemblyman Thomas J. Abinati
Phone: 518-455-5753
Email: abinantit@nyassembly.gov
Similar practices: In 2016, France became the first country to require supermarkets to donate excess edible food that would otherwise be thrown away.s.
Evaluation: Evaluation has not yet been conducted, as the law was only recently passed.
Learn more:
- The Dark Side of Retail Food Waste: Evidences From In-Store Data (Resources, Conservation and Recycling)
- Hunger in NYS (Hunger Solutions New York)
- Retail Store Operations and Food Waste (Journal of Cleaner Production)
- Understand Food Insecurity (Feeding America)
References:
- 8 Facts to Know About Food Waste and Hunger (World Food Program USA)
- Assembly Bill A4398A (The New York State Senate)
- Bill No. S04176 (New York State Assembly)
- Cuomo Signs Law Requiring Supermarkets to Donate ‘Excess Food’ to Food Pantries (WCBS News Radio 880)
- Cuomo Signs Law Seeking to Expand Food Donations (Spectrum News)
- Food Waste FAQs (United States Department of Agriculture)
- French Law Forbids Food Waste by Supermarkets (The Guardian)
- Harckham and Abinanti Bill to Increase Food Donations Signed into Law (The New York State Senate)
- The Impact of the Coronavirus on Food Insecurity in 2020 (Feeding America)
- In NYS, Supermarkets Will Have To Direct Excess Food To Certain Entities (WAMC Northeast Public Radio)
- N.Y. Law Mandates Supermarkets Donate Excess Food (Progressive Grocer)
- NYSHealth Testimony on the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity in New York State (New York State Health Foundation)
- Senate Bill S4176A (The New York State Senate)
- State of New York 4176-A (The New York State Senate)
- State of New York 4398-A (New York State Assembly)
