Only 10% of available, edible wasted Food is recovered each year in the United States, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Although most food businesses could be donating much of their leftovers, many are still hesitant — but there is no need to be. 

Those worried about getting sued for donating food that may leave a consumer sick should know that under the Bill Emerson Food Donation Act, donors are protected when donating to non-profits. 

Quoted in HuffPost, Nicole Civita, Professor and Director of the Food Recovery Project with the University of Arkansas School of Law and Assistant Director of the Rian Fried Center for Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems at Sterling College, assures restaurants that donors would only be considered liable if they were intentionally trying to harm someone with their offering. "As long as no one has acted in a totally reckless or deliberately destructive manner, lawyers are not interested in sticking it to people who make sure the needy do not starve," says Cevita.

According to Move for Hunger, a nonprofit that focuses on reducing food waste in the relocation industry to fight hunger, "Hunger often precedes homelessness because people who are forced to decide between paying for housing or groceries will, more often than not, choose the former."

"Hunger often precedes homelessness because people who are forced to decide between paying for housing or groceries will, more often than not, choose the former." — Move for Hunger

There is no reason why folks, who are already under immense amounts of stress, should have to choose between these two basic necessities, especially when 40% of food in the United States goes uneaten. 

Claire Cummings, waste programs manager at Bon Appetit Management Company Foundation, has focused her efforts on combatting another barrier that keeps businesses from donating food: Cummings told HuffPost that she believes that this process could be smoother and more appealing to restaurants if the FDA and local health departments would partner with nonprofits to establish clearer guidelines. 

There are multiple organizations here in Oregon that partner with local businesses for food recovery, and provide resources that make the process easy for anyone interested in being a donor.

All businesses in the food industry can do their part to simultaneously reduce food waste and food insecurity; there is no excuse not to. 

Below is a list of organizations that you can get involved with:

Based in Oregon:

Urban Gleaners 

Waste Not Food Taxi 

Based Across the US:

Food Rescue US

Food Rescue Hero

For an overview of how to donate food from your business, check out this guide from Oregon Metro: