HISTORY OF SCHOOL FOOD RESCUE & SHARE TABLE GUIDELINES IN THE U.S.
Note: This history is intended to document polices only, not participating schools. Many schools participated in school food rescue programs prior to formal guidelines being written specifically for schools.
Note: This history is intended to document polices only, not participating schools. Many schools participated in school food rescue programs prior to formal guidelines being written specifically for schools.
CHAPTER 1 : Indiana
December, 2015
Departments of Education & Health Write Guidelines For School Food Rescues & Share Tables
In June of 2015, the first state guidelines in the U.S. were written by the Indiana Department of Health and Indiana Department of Education for school food rescue policies for student "tray to trash" solutions via share tables and donations. Subsequently, Green Umbrella produced a document for Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
December, 2015
Departments of Education & Health Write Guidelines For School Food Rescues & Share Tables
In June of 2015, the first state guidelines in the U.S. were written by the Indiana Department of Health and Indiana Department of Education for school food rescue policies for student "tray to trash" solutions via share tables and donations. Subsequently, Green Umbrella produced a document for Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
| isdh___idoe_school_share_table_guidlines_pdf.pdf |
| isdh___idoe_school_food_recovery_guidelines_pdf.pdf |
CHAPTER 2: VERMONT
May, 2016
In May of 2016, Vermont became the 2nd state to school food rescue guidelines in collaboration with Food Rescue and using Indiana's guidelines for student tray to trash solutions via share tables and donations as a starting point.
May, 2016
In May of 2016, Vermont became the 2nd state to school food rescue guidelines in collaboration with Food Rescue and using Indiana's guidelines for student tray to trash solutions via share tables and donations as a starting point.
CHAPTER 3: USDA
June , 2016
On September 16, 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the United States’ first-ever national food waste reduction goal, calling for a 50-percent reduction by 2030 (USDA News Release No. 0257.15). This student food waste audit guide is intended to help educate students about the amount of food they waste in their school cafeterias and to encourage them to reduce waste and eat more of the nutritious foods provided through USDA’s school meals programs or brought from home.
In June of 2016, the USDA produced historic share table guidelines for K-12 schools, representing a fantastic step that should be the catalyst to end the practice of requiring students to feed landfills with unopened and unpeeled food from their trays that they choose not to eat. Even more stunning, the USDA allows certain unopened food served on the trays of students to be re-served though the lunch line if they place it on a "share table"and it goes uneaten. But more incredibly, it can be counted as a reimbursed meal from the National School Lunch Program.
To be clear, the same food the USDA says can be re-served to paying student customers to save schools money is the exact
same food that some local and state health departments claim is not allowed to be donated to children and families in need via food pantries. Truth is often stranger than fiction!
June , 2016
On September 16, 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the United States’ first-ever national food waste reduction goal, calling for a 50-percent reduction by 2030 (USDA News Release No. 0257.15). This student food waste audit guide is intended to help educate students about the amount of food they waste in their school cafeterias and to encourage them to reduce waste and eat more of the nutritious foods provided through USDA’s school meals programs or brought from home.
In June of 2016, the USDA produced historic share table guidelines for K-12 schools, representing a fantastic step that should be the catalyst to end the practice of requiring students to feed landfills with unopened and unpeeled food from their trays that they choose not to eat. Even more stunning, the USDA allows certain unopened food served on the trays of students to be re-served though the lunch line if they place it on a "share table"and it goes uneaten. But more incredibly, it can be counted as a reimbursed meal from the National School Lunch Program.
To be clear, the same food the USDA says can be re-served to paying student customers to save schools money is the exact
same food that some local and state health departments claim is not allowed to be donated to children and families in need via food pantries. Truth is often stranger than fiction!
| fda-foodcode2022-fulldocument-01182023.pdf |
| fda-foodcode2022-summaryofchanges-01182023.pdf |
CHAPTER 4: New York
2016
New York Bill (S854) has been introduced and has passed the senate in the middle of 2016, directing various state agencies to write similar guidelines. The New York Assembly and Governor approval are still needed.
Update: Nov. 9th, 2017 this bill was passed. In May of 2021, the NY City Council Voted to Reduce School Food Waste. https://council.nyc.gov/press/2021/05/12/2089/
2016
New York Bill (S854) has been introduced and has passed the senate in the middle of 2016, directing various state agencies to write similar guidelines. The New York Assembly and Governor approval are still needed.
Update: Nov. 9th, 2017 this bill was passed. In May of 2021, the NY City Council Voted to Reduce School Food Waste. https://council.nyc.gov/press/2021/05/12/2089/
https://www.cn.nysed.gov/file/sharesharing-tables-school-food-services
CHAPTER 5: Alaska
August, 2017
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development have collaborated on guidance for implementing food recovery and share tables at school-aged child nutrition programs including schools, outside school hour programs, and summer feeding programs.
August, 2017
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development have collaborated on guidance for implementing food recovery and share tables at school-aged child nutrition programs including schools, outside school hour programs, and summer feeding programs.
| washingtonschoolfoodshare5087717_a__3_.pdf |
| tacoma_health_dept_food_rescue_in_schools.pdf |
CHAPTER 10: Texas
November, 2016
Texas joined the fight in November of 2016: Texas has started its process with Food Rescue's Texas State Director of Student Leadership, 10yr old Yash Semlani, a 5th grader appointed by Mayor Turner as Houston's Inaugural Young Ambassador . Yash started the program in his school district and when he found that his state had no clear guideline like other states did, he started his effort with the Governor's office to get Texas to write guidelines for all districts to follow. He is also in contact with various ISD's who are implementing "share tables" in their districts. He is also supporting TX Rep. Diego Bernal for his HB367".
The bill was approved and Hunger Free Texans produced a great school tool kit in September of 2017, featuring a photo from one our our national student leaders, Nick Iannone of Connecticut.
November, 2016
Texas joined the fight in November of 2016: Texas has started its process with Food Rescue's Texas State Director of Student Leadership, 10yr old Yash Semlani, a 5th grader appointed by Mayor Turner as Houston's Inaugural Young Ambassador . Yash started the program in his school district and when he found that his state had no clear guideline like other states did, he started his effort with the Governor's office to get Texas to write guidelines for all districts to follow. He is also in contact with various ISD's who are implementing "share tables" in their districts. He is also supporting TX Rep. Diego Bernal for his HB367".
The bill was approved and Hunger Free Texans produced a great school tool kit in September of 2017, featuring a photo from one our our national student leaders, Nick Iannone of Connecticut.
| hft-food-donation-in-schools-tool-kit__9_.pdf |
CHAPTER 11: North Carolina
Sadly, the North Carolina Public Health Department clarified in a December of 2016 memo that was distributed to many local health departments that only unserved food is allowed to be donated, mandating that unopened milk for example be fed to landfills instead of children and families in need in the community. This clarification of policy can likely be attributed to the advocacy of a North Carolina High School student, Hanna Wondmagegn, who started a Food Rescue program in her high school, delivered a Ted Talk, and ultimately spoke to the school board, in the Charlotte Mecklenburg County school district, where she received a standing ovation. Shortly after Hanna began to pursue both district and state wide policy adoption of school food rescue policies, and her efforts were thwarted by the memo.
Sadly, the North Carolina Public Health Department clarified in a December of 2016 memo that was distributed to many local health departments that only unserved food is allowed to be donated, mandating that unopened milk for example be fed to landfills instead of children and families in need in the community. This clarification of policy can likely be attributed to the advocacy of a North Carolina High School student, Hanna Wondmagegn, who started a Food Rescue program in her high school, delivered a Ted Talk, and ultimately spoke to the school board, in the Charlotte Mecklenburg County school district, where she received a standing ovation. Shortly after Hanna began to pursue both district and state wide policy adoption of school food rescue policies, and her efforts were thwarted by the memo.
Johnston County North Carolina Share Table Guidelines
CHAPTER 12: Connecticut
The Connecticut State Department of Education, after consulting with the Connecticut State Department of Health, sent out a memo very similar to North Carolina, essentially leaving no path for TCS (Temperature Controlled for Safety) and PHF (Potentially Hazardous Food) to be donated, despite the USDA guidelines that lay out a path for such donations. In short, unopened milk or unpeeled whole apples served to students that they choose not to eat are required to be fed to landfills instead of children and families in need in the community.
Listen To NPR HERE AND NOW Interview
The Connecticut State Department of Education, after consulting with the Connecticut State Department of Health, sent out a memo very similar to North Carolina, essentially leaving no path for TCS (Temperature Controlled for Safety) and PHF (Potentially Hazardous Food) to be donated, despite the USDA guidelines that lay out a path for such donations. In short, unopened milk or unpeeled whole apples served to students that they choose not to eat are required to be fed to landfills instead of children and families in need in the community.
Listen To NPR HERE AND NOW Interview
| ct-school-food-donation-resource__2_.pdf |
CHAPTER 13: Massachusetts
January, 2017
On Jan. 23 2017, Bill S.292 was referred to the Education Committee for review. Shortly after, the Massachusetts Department of Education produced written guidelines for the safe use of Share Tables.
Bill S.292 in Massachusetts: Bill S.292 SECTION 1. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 1C the following section:-: The board shall develop guidelines for the voluntary implementation by school districts of programs that encourage and facilitate the ability of school districts to donate excess, unconsumed, and edible food and beverages from meals served at such educational facilities to local food assistance programs including, but not limited to, community food pantries, soup kitchens, and other community and not-for-profit organizations that distribute food to the poor and disadvantaged. Such guidelines may include but are not limited to a methodology to provide information to educational institutions and local voluntary food assistance programs of the provisions of such guidelines, notification to educational institutions of their ability to elect to donate excess, unconsumed, and edible food and beverages to local voluntary food programs, and the provision of information and technical assistance on the manner of how to best donate excess food in a safe and sanitary manner.
Moving Food Waste Forward
North Andover Superintendent Video
January, 2017
On Jan. 23 2017, Bill S.292 was referred to the Education Committee for review. Shortly after, the Massachusetts Department of Education produced written guidelines for the safe use of Share Tables.
Bill S.292 in Massachusetts: Bill S.292 SECTION 1. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 1C the following section:-: The board shall develop guidelines for the voluntary implementation by school districts of programs that encourage and facilitate the ability of school districts to donate excess, unconsumed, and edible food and beverages from meals served at such educational facilities to local food assistance programs including, but not limited to, community food pantries, soup kitchens, and other community and not-for-profit organizations that distribute food to the poor and disadvantaged. Such guidelines may include but are not limited to a methodology to provide information to educational institutions and local voluntary food assistance programs of the provisions of such guidelines, notification to educational institutions of their ability to elect to donate excess, unconsumed, and edible food and beverages to local voluntary food programs, and the provision of information and technical assistance on the manner of how to best donate excess food in a safe and sanitary manner.
Moving Food Waste Forward
North Andover Superintendent Video
CHAPTER 14: Ohio
February, 2017
February, 2017
| ohio_guidelines_on_share_tables_-_dec-8-2016.pdf |
| ohio_department_of_health_and__department_of_agriculture_share_table_guidance__1_.pdf |
| school-food-donation-pilot-project-for-osu-food-waste-conference-mohring-2fx3po0.pdf |
| greater_cincinnati_food_policy_councili_share_tables_guide.pdf |
Great work by Green Umbrella with a document for Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Notice Indiana State Department Of Health Guidelines Are Included
Notice Indiana State Department Of Health Guidelines Are Included
CHAPTER 15: New Jersey
February, 2017
February, 2017
| new_jersey_bill_4632_i1.pdf |
CHAPTER 16: California
| county_deh_-_share_tables_at_schools.pdf |
| oakland_usd_food_donation_guide.pdf |
| oakland_usd_food_share_table.pdf |
| alameda_county_food_share_table.pdf |
| ousd_schoolfooddonation_memo.pdf |
| sb_1383_california_brochure.pdf |
September 26th, 2017 Governor Brown signs law allowing schools to donate their unopened food from the trays of students. Meaning California schools are "allowed" to do what the USDA already says they can in chapter 5.
CHAPTER 17: Arkansas
July, 2017
Arkansas Food Recovery Project: Tremendous document about share table guidelines: Melissa Terry and Dr. Nicole Civita
July, 2017
Arkansas Food Recovery Project: Tremendous document about share table guidelines: Melissa Terry and Dr. Nicole Civita
CHAPTER 18: Georgia
http://helpinghandsendinghunger.org/dph-memorandum.html
Oct 2017
http://helpinghandsendinghunger.org/doe-memorandum.html
Sept 2018
http://helpinghandsendinghunger.org/dph-memorandum.html
Oct 2017
http://helpinghandsendinghunger.org/doe-memorandum.html
Sept 2018
| georgia_food_donor_protections.pdf |
CHAPTER 19: Florida
November, 2017
Orange County (article in Orlando Sentinel) 11-17-17
Boca Raton (article in Sun Sentinel) 11/21/17
Florida School Food Recovery: Elaine Fiorie of Broward County Presentation: See Here Late 2018: Not policy, but a success story. Also, Elaine established SchoolFoodRecovery.org, a website dedicated to teaching others about rescuing school food.
Florida Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services Promotes K-12 Food Rescue: See Here 9-30-19
Lee County And Harry Chapin Food Bank Team up To End School Food Waste: See Here 9-30-19: Not policy, but a success story
November, 2017
Orange County (article in Orlando Sentinel) 11-17-17
Boca Raton (article in Sun Sentinel) 11/21/17
Florida School Food Recovery: Elaine Fiorie of Broward County Presentation: See Here Late 2018: Not policy, but a success story. Also, Elaine established SchoolFoodRecovery.org, a website dedicated to teaching others about rescuing school food.
Florida Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services Promotes K-12 Food Rescue: See Here 9-30-19
Lee County And Harry Chapin Food Bank Team up To End School Food Waste: See Here 9-30-19: Not policy, but a success story
| florida_student_food_access_toolkit.pdf |
| bcps_food_sharing_table_guideline_presentation_2019-2020.pdf |
CHAPTER 20: Illinois
January, 2018
https://southsideweekly.com/scraps-to-sustenance-cps-food-waste/
September 30th, 2019: Not policy, but a success story
Monticello Elementary
February 2016: Not policy, but a success story
Mindful Waste
January, 2018
https://southsideweekly.com/scraps-to-sustenance-cps-food-waste/
September 30th, 2019: Not policy, but a success story
Monticello Elementary
February 2016: Not policy, but a success story
Mindful Waste
| food_waste_reduction_toolkit_for_il_schools-may_2021.pdf |
| sb_805_illinois.pdf |
|
| ||
| sm010_convene_working_group_to_study_food_waste.pdf |
CHAPTER 23: Pennsylvania
June, 2018
http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/06/bills_to_take_on_food_insecuri.html
Sept. 30, 2019
https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-senate-panel-hears-testimony-on-school-food-waste-accessibility/article_b9f59c32-e376-11e9-94e9-e7f098af131c.html
June, 2018
http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/06/bills_to_take_on_food_insecuri.html
Sept. 30, 2019
https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-senate-panel-hears-testimony-on-school-food-waste-accessibility/article_b9f59c32-e376-11e9-94e9-e7f098af131c.html
| rutgers_school_food_waste_reduction_toolkit.pdf |
CHAPTER 24: Kentucky
Great work by Green Umbrella with a document for Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana featuring the nation's first guidelines written by the Indiana Departments of Health and Education.
Great work by Green Umbrella with a document for Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana featuring the nation's first guidelines written by the Indiana Departments of Health and Education.
CHAPTER 25: Minnesota
Fantastic work by Jonathan Bloom and the Minneapolis Public School with the "True Food, No Waste, Action Plan
January 2019
Fantastic work by Jonathan Bloom and the Minneapolis Public School with the "True Food, No Waste, Action Plan
January 2019
CHAPTER 26: Rhode Island
www.ecori.org/government/2018/4/16/food-waste-at-schools-getting-attention
Feb 2019
www.ecori.org/government/2018/4/16/food-waste-at-schools-getting-attention
Feb 2019
| rhode_island_guidance_for_schools.pdf |
First State in the U.S. to mandate Share Tables via a bill. Senate Bill 104 in Rhode Island
| s0104.pdf |
| food-waste-reduction-toolkit-for-ri-schools-5.3.21__3_.pdf |
Chapter 27: Maine
https://www.nrcm.org/our-maine/publications/school-food-recovery-handbook/
Sept. 30, 2019
https://www.journaltribune.com/articles/front-page/new-law-aims-to-reduce-food-waste-in-maine-schools/
https://www.nrcm.org/our-maine/publications/school-food-recovery-handbook/
Sept. 30, 2019
https://www.journaltribune.com/articles/front-page/new-law-aims-to-reduce-food-waste-in-maine-schools/
CHAPTER 28: Michigan
November 2019
According to K-12 Food Rescue student leaders in Michigan, standards for rescuing dairy, milk, and TCS (temperature controlled for safety) food items are still more stringent than the USDA guidelines for rescuing the same items.
November 2019
According to K-12 Food Rescue student leaders in Michigan, standards for rescuing dairy, milk, and TCS (temperature controlled for safety) food items are still more stringent than the USDA guidelines for rescuing the same items.
CHAPTER 29: Tennessee
| tn_share_table_food_donation_guidance.pdf |
| opsp_gfstn_legal-fact-sheet-for-food-donation-in-tennessee-liability-protections_pdf.pdf |
CHAPTER 30: New Hampshire
Bill in 2021 to allow frozen meals to be sent home from back of the cafeteria waste
| new_hampshire_hb_500_2021.pdf |
CHAPTER 31: Virginia
| virginia_code_amendment_relating_to_food_donations.pdf |
CHAPTER 32: Maryland
| food_waste_minimization_and_related_activities_--_a_toolkit_for_maryland_schools.pdf |
CHAPTER 33: Oregon
| |||
Chapter 35: South Dakota
South Dakota State Extension
https://doe.sd.gov/cans/documents/Memo-230-1.pdf
South Dakota State Extension
https://doe.sd.gov/cans/documents/Memo-230-1.pdf
