TRENTON, NJ – If a new bill proposed in Trenton makes it to the governor’s desk, man supermarkets could be forced to donate their excess food in the future.
In a move to reduce food waste, a new bill has been proposed requiring supermarkets, grocery stores, and food suppliers to donate edible food that would otherwise be discarded.
The law targets retail outlets and suppliers, obliging them to make a concerted effort to donate food fit for consumption to food banks, nonprofit organizations, or individuals. Specifically, the bill applies to supermarkets and grocery stores that operate within closed structures spanning over 16,000 square feet, with at least 90% of their space dedicated to food and related products. The act is slated to take effect 180 days following its enactment.
The bill proposes to radically change the laws on supermarkets and food retailers, but does not explain a process of how the food will be transported to be donated or who the food should be donated to.