SB 1383 requires certain food-generating businesses to donate their surplus edible food to people in need. Feeding hungry people through food recovery is the best use of surplus food and a vital way for California to conserve resources and reduce waste thrown in landfills.

Californians send 11.2 billion pounds of food to landfills each year, and a significant portion of that food is still edible for human consumption. In San Diego County, 1 in 4 residents are food insecure and do not know when and where their next meal is coming from. To reduce the amount of food waste and feed more Californians, SB 1383 requires certain food-generating businesses to donate surplus edible food to food recovery organizations. Edible food recovery and food waste reduction programs help save businesses money while also having positive environmental and societal impacts. Businesses have civil and criminal liability protection through the Good Samaritan Law for food donations. Businesses that donate food save money through enhanced tax deductions and reduced waste hauling fees.

Edible food means food intended for people to eat, including food not sold because of:

• Appearance
• Age
• Freshness
• Grade
• Size 
• Surplus

Edible food includes but is not limited to: 

• Prepared foods
• Packaged foods
• Produce