1.4 million people go hungry in Los Angeles County every day. Households, schools, and businesses in LA County throw away nearly 1.6 million tons of food every year.

Donating surplus food can be a great way to help charitable organizations that serve those in need and must be done in a way that minimizes food safety risks.

Worried About Liability? The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act Protects You!

"A person or gleaner shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery product that the person or gleaner donates in good faith to a nonprofit organization for ultimate distribution to needy individuals."

Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act in US Code Title 42, Chapter 13A, Section 1791

Have Food Safety Questions?

Contact Community and Industry Engagement by phone at (626) 430-5156.

Food Donation Resources in Los Angeles County

Note: It is best to contact the organizations below well in advance to making a food donation.

Food Rescue Organizations

Food Finders

Diana Lara
dlara@foodfinders.org
(562) 283-1400
foodfinders.org/food-donations

Food Cycle LA

www.foodcyclela.org

Gleaning, Farmers Market, and Wholesale Food Rescue

Food Forward

General questions: info@foodforward.org

Donating backyard fruit: harvest@foodforward.org or call (818) 530-4125

Farmers Market Recovery Program (food rescue): fmrecovery@foodforward.org or call (818) 764-1022 ext. 6

Wholesale Recovery Program: luis@foodforward.org

foodforward.org/about/

School Food Donations

Food Bus

foodbus.org/about-us

Food Finders

Diana Lara
dlara@foodfinders.org
(562) 283-1400

foodfinders.org/food-donations

Food Donation Network Experts

Food Donation Connection

ContactUs@foodtodonate.com
(800) 831-8161

foodtodonate.com

Urban Harvester

Serving the Greater Los Angeles Area
info@urbanharvester.org

urbanharvester.org

Additional County Resources

Note: Not all pantries are equipped to handle all food, call in advance first!

Los Angeles Food Recovery Guide

Los Angeles Area Food Recovery Guide (Published 2017)

EPA Links and Resources

EPA Links and Resources for Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

https://www.lafoodbank.org/

Food Oasis LA

https://foodoasis.la/search/

Ample Harvest

ampleharvest.org/find-pantry

2-1-1 Los Angeles County

211la.org

Type "food" in the keyword search field, and type in your zip code. The closer it is to your facility the better.

Liability Information

State and Federal Food Donation Statutes protect you from liability:

Any food facility may donate food to a food bank or to any other nonprofit charitable organization for distribution to persons free of charge.

No food facility that donates food as permitted by Section 114432 shall be subject to civil or criminal liability or penalty for violation of any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the labeling or packaging of the donated product or, with respect to any laws, regulations, or ordinances, for a violation occurring after the time of donation.

Except for injury resulting from negligence or a willful act in the preparation or handling of donated food, no food facility that donates any food that is fit for human consumption at the time it was donated to a nonprofit charitable organization or a food bank shall be liable for any damage or injury resulting from the consumption of the donated food. The immunity from civil liability provided by this subdivision applies regardless of compliance with any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the packaging or labeling of food, and regardless of compliance with any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the storage or handling of the food by the donee after the donation of food.

A person or gleaner shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery product that the person or gleaner donates in good faith to a nonprofit organization for ultimate distribution to needy individuals.
This section shall not be construed to create any liability. Nothing in this section shall be construed to supercede State or local health regulations.