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(Last Updated 10/29/2024)
Rhode Island Food Waste Policy
Rhode Island Date Labeling Regulations
Rating: Negative Policy
R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-33-1; R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-33-2; R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-33-3; R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-34.1-4; 216-RICR-50-10-6.4
In addition to requiring dates labels consistent with the FDA model Food Code provisions adopted by Rhode Island, Rhode Island requires date labeling bakery items. Sale of past date bakery items is prohibited except if the bakery item is separated from items that have not passed the sell-by date and the past date bakery item is clearly labeled as such. The sale or donation of past date reduced oxygen packaging items and refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food is prohibited.
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.
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes a model Food Code, to help states regulate restaurants, food service providers, and food retailers to ensure the safe handling of food. Nearly every state has adopted a version of the FDA Food Code that requires date labeling for molluscan shellfish and foods in reduced oxygen packaging, as well as the marking of certain refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety foods to indicate the day by which the food should be consumed or discarded.
Shucked shellfish packages smaller than ½ gallon must be marked with a “sell by" or "best if used by" date, and shucked shellfish packages with capacity of ½ gallon or more must be labeled with the date of shucking.
Food in reduced oxygen packaging generally must be labeled with the earlier of a “use-by" date not more than 30 days from the date of packaging or the original manufacturer’s “sell by” date. In states that have adopted the 2009 FDA Food Code or a prior version, the “use-by" date cannot be not more than 14 days from the date of packaging or the original manufacturer’s “sell by” date. The sale or donation of past date reduced oxygen packaging items is prohibited.
Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and held in a food establishment for more than 24 hours generally must be marked to indicate the day by which the food should be consumed or discarded.
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, for foods other than those mentioned above, 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. Also, some states explicitly prohibit or limit the donation of past date foods.
Rhode Island Liability Protection Regulations
Rating: Strong Policy
R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 21-34.1-1—6
Donations made within the state are protected from liability according to the federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. In addition, the state protects donations of food that is past-date, if determined by the distributor to be wholesome.
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.
Rhode Island TAX INCENTIVES
Rating: No Policy
Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island FOOD SAFETY
Rating: Moderate Policy
Rhode to End Hunger; Share Table and Food Safety Guidance for Schools
Rhode Island offers general guidance for storage, handling, and labeling of donated food, as well as school share table guidance.
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.
Rhode Island Animal Feed Regulations
Rating: Weak Policy
R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 4-3-1–11
Any animal or vegetable waste resulting from handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of foods must be heated to at least 212 degrees before being fed to swine. Annual animal-derived and vegetable treated waste feeding permits must be obtained, but exceptions apply for individuals feeding household waste to animals raised for personal use as well as any facility that feeds waste to four or fewer swine.
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.
Rhode Island Organic Waste Recycling Laws
Rating: Weak Policy
RI Gen. Laws Ann. § 23-18.9-7; R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 23-18.9-17; R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 16-111-1
All higher educational and research institutions that produce greater than 52 tons/year of organic waste, all other educational entities (i.e., Rhode Island school districts, public or private schools grades K-12, charter public schools, and career and technical high schools) that produce greater than 30 tons/year of organic waste, and all other covered entities (i.e., commercial food wholesalers, supermarkets, etc.) that produce greater than 104 tons/year of organic waste must ensure that the organic waste materials that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated are recycled at an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility or by another authorized recycling method. The law only applies to those generators located within 15 miles of a composting or anaerobic digestion facility. Waivers apply if the landfill tipping fee is less than the fee charged by an authorized composting or anaerobic digestion facility located within 15 miles of the business.
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.