Safely Donate Surplus Food

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Did you know that Environmental Health Services has a dedicated program to help businesses and organizations donate edible surplus food? Every year, tons of edible food is thrown away, decomposing into harmful greenhouse gasses. The Safe Surplus Food Donation Program helps businesses identify and donate eligible edible surplus food to nonprofits around the community to keep food on plates and out of landfills. Follow the guidelines below to decide if your surplus food can be donated.

Food Donation Basics 🍴

  • Food donation is protected by legal safeguards. 📜
  • In order to be donated, food must be wholesome (edible) and safe to eat. 🍎
    • Expired food can still be donated as an expiration date does not dictate food edibility; it only informs the consumer about freshness. 🛒
  • Food can only be donated to qualifying nonprofits. Donated food cannot be sold for a profit; it must be redistributed for free. 📦
  • Food cannot be directly donated from a business or organization to individuals. It must be distributed through a nonprofit organization. 👥
  • Food donation qualifies for certain tax write-offs (visit our website for details). 💲

What to Do With Food Not Eligible for Donation 🚮

If an organization or business has food that is not eligible for donation, it should be composted or trashed according to the city or county’s solid waste guidelines. According to CalRecycle, all businesses and organizations are required to self-haul or participate in curbside organic waste collection for food disposal.

Can Residents Donate Food?

Yes! Residents can donate surplus food following the same guidelines as businesses and organizations. Some organizations can receive smaller donations while others may only be able to accept larger donations. Visit the Safe Surplus Food Donation website for more details and links to donation organizations.

Are you interested in donating or receiving food donations?

Visit smchealth.org/fooddonation or contact the program coordinator Emilie Dirck at 📧 edirck@smcgov.org or 📲 (650) 464-7079 for more information.

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