May. 04, 2020
HARRISBURG – The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), today approved legislation to expand liability protections for donated food that may be past its stamped date code.
Watch Rep. Causer’s remarks in support of the bill during the committee meeting.
“Far too much food is wasted because people mistake the date coding as a measure of food safety when it is actually just a manufacturer’s estimation of when the food would be of the best quality,” Causer said. “Food can still be eaten and enjoyed after that date, and we want to make sure people understand that, especially now with so many people in need and concerns rising about our food supply chain.”
House Bill 2477 would amend the free-standing Donated Food Limited Liability Act to specifically limit the criminal and civil liability for persons who donate food that is fit for human consumption but is past a date code on the food item. The donor must make a good faith evaluation that the food is fit for human consumption.
While current state and federal laws offer liability protection for food donations made to nonprofit organizations, the existing protections do not apply to donations of food made to organizations other than nonprofits, nor do they specifically protect donations of food that are beyond the date codes.
The bill passed the committee by a unanimous vote and now goes to the full House for consideration.
Representative Martin T. Causer
67th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Patricia A. Hippler
717.772.9846
phippler@pahousegop.com
RepCauser.com/ Facebook.com/RepCauser