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How to donate surplus food safely
Federal Bill Emerson Act + state Good Samaritan laws protect donors from civil liability when donations follow simple sanitary steps. Here's the checklist.
Reviewed by Priya Nair · MS Food SafetyLast reviewed 2026-02-25 · corrections log
What food banks will accept
Sealed, in-date shelf-stable items; frozen items kept ≤0 °F; refrigerated items kept ≤40 °F with a documented temperature log.
What they can't accept
Homemade preserves, opened packaging, unpasteurised dairy, or foods past their manufacturer discard-by.
Sources
- Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act
- Feeding America donation guidelines
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