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(Last Updated 05/01/2024)
Illinois Food Waste Policy
Illinois Date Labeling Regulations
Rating: Negative Policy
Ill. Admin. Code tit. 8, § 65.30; 77 Ill. Adm. Code 750.110; 2017 FDA Food Code 3-202.17; 410 ILCS 620/11.5
Illinois requires date labeling for shellfish. Shellfish packages smaller than 1/2 gallon must be marked with either a "sell-by" or a "best if used by" date, and shellfish packages with capacity of 1/2 gallon or more are labeled must be labeled with the date of shucking. Illinois does not require date labeling on eggs; however, if labeled, sale of eggs is restricted out of date. If labeled, Grade A eggs will be dated no more than 45 days from the candling date and Grade AA eggs will be dated no more than 30 days from the candling date. Donation of past-date foods is not restricted.
Beginning July 1, 2024, Illinois will also encourage food businesses to use the standardized terms "USE By" or "USE by or Freeze by" for food labeled with a date intended to indicate safety, and "BEST If Used By" or "BEST if Used or Frozen by" for food that is labeled to indicate when it is at peak quality.
Overview
Date labels are the dates on food packaging that are accompanied by phrases such as "use by," "best before," "sell by," "enjoy by," and "expires on." Date labels are almost entirely unregulated under federal law, except for infant formula and some very limited instances related to poultry and egg products. Because federal law is so limited, states have broad discretion to regulate date labels, which has resulted in a patchwork of date label regulation across the United States. The inconsistency in date label laws leads to food waste because consumers may discard food after the date on the package due to confusion about product safety and retailers or manufacturers may discard food due to confusion about selling or donating the past-date food.
Illinois Liability Protection Regulations
Rating: Moderate Policy
Donations made within the state are protected from liability according to the federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.
Overview
The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, as amended by the Food Donation Improvement Act, provides a strong federal baseline of protection for food donors against state and federal liability claims. It covers individuals, businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, the officers of businesses and nonprofit organizations, and gleaners. A donor must donate in good faith to a nonprofit organization that distributes the donated food to needy populations, or, if the donor is a qualified direct donor, they may donate food directly to needy individuals. Donated food must meet all quality and labeling standards imposed by federal, state and local laws and regulations. A state’s liability protection law can provide more, but not less, protection than the Emerson Act.
Illinois TAX INCENTIVES
Rating: No Policy
Illinois does not offer additional tax incentives beyond federal incentives.
Overview
The federal government provides tax deductions to incentivize businesses to donate food. As of December 2015, all businesses—including C-corporations, S-corporations, limited liability corporations (LLCs), partnerships and sole proprietorships—are eligible for an enhanced tax deduction that exceeds the property’s basis for donated food if they meet certain requirements. If they do not meet the requirements, they can still claim a general tax deduction in the amount of the property’s basis.
Illinois FOOD SAFETY
Rating: Moderate Policy
105 ILCS 5/2-3.182; 77 Ill. Admin. Code 750.500
Illinois requires schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program to incorporate a food sharing plan for needy students or otherwise donate leftover food. Illinois also regulates the donation of wild game, specifying dressing and labeling requirements.
Overview
States often base their food safety regulations on the model food safety regulations for restaurants and retail stores within the FDA Food Code. While the Food Code states that food donation is permitted, it does not specify which food safety laws or regulations pertain to the food donation context. Without guidance or clarity coming from a governmental entity, food donors will often refuse to donate their safe, wholesome food. States vary broadly in terms of the level of guidance they provide on food safety rules for food donation, often providing limited guidance for a specialized context, such as share tables in schools, or no guidance at all.
Illinois Animal Feed Regulations
Rating: Negative Policy
720 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/48-7
It is unlawful to feed livestock any animal-derived or vegetable waste. Exceptions apply for individuals feeding their own household waste to their own animals.
Overview
For centuries, using food scraps as animal feed was common worldwide. The practice declined rapidly in the 1980s, when several disease outbreaks were linked to unsafe animal feed. In an attempt to prevent the spread of such diseases, federal laws and regulations were enacted to restrict what is often pejoratively referred to as “garbage feeding” to animals. However, using food scraps as animal feed in a safe, resource-efficient way can be environmentally friendly and energy-efficient, providing multiple benefits for both farmers and food waste generators, such as retailers, restaurants, and institutional cafeterias. Under federal law, food scraps can generally be fed to animals, so long as food scraps with animal derived by-products are heat-treated by a licensed facility before being fed to swine; and food scraps containing animal-derived by-products are not fed to ruminants. The federal regulations function as a floor, and most state regulations go beyond them.
Illinois Organic Waste Recycling Laws
Rating: No Policy
Illinois does not have any organic waste bans or waste recycling laws that bear on food waste.
Overview
In order to push businesses and consumers to reduce food waste, a growing number of states and localities are enacting organic waste bans or waste recycling laws to restrict the amount of food waste an entity can send to the landfill. However, each state differs regarding the specifics of its waste ban or recycling law. For example, they vary with regard to the types of entities covered under the law, how much organic waste an entity must produce in order to be covered, and whether exceptions exist for entities located far from a facility that accepts food scraps. These differences have a significant impact on the reach of these laws, and therefore on the amount of food waste diverted.