The Contra Costa Times reports that while “most supermarket chains participate in hunger-relief programs, liability concerns severely limit the amount of surplus food that they donate to the needy. As a result, vast amounts of food go to waste across the state, an examination by California Watch and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at University of Southern California found.
“Fearing liability if someone were to get severely ill, major retail grocery chains and restaurants are more likely to throw away meats, fruits and vegetables than donate to distribution centers.”
The story notes that the law generally protects food companies from being sued if donated food makes people sick, but that litigation-shy companies still are being overly careful about putting themselves in a situation where they can be put in jeopardy.
“Fearing liability if someone were to get severely ill, major retail grocery chains and restaurants are more likely to throw away meats, fruits and vegetables than donate to distribution centers.”
The story notes that the law generally protects food companies from being sued if donated food makes people sick, but that litigation-shy companies still are being overly careful about putting themselves in a situation where they can be put in jeopardy.
- KC's View:
