Joint responsibility to ensure safety of donated food

We refer to 林淑芳’s letter on 30 Oct 2025 (捐赠食品要有公德心).

The safety of donated food is a joint responsibility of food donors, intermediaries such as food charities and food distribution organisations, the government as well as recipients of the donated food.

While the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act confers protection on food donors and intermediaries who donate and/or distribute free food from criminal or civil liability for any death or personal injury resulting from consuming donated food, the protection only applies if these four conditions are met:

1. The food is not unsafe nor unsuitable when donated
2. The handling requirements of the food are clearly communicated to the recipient
3. The time limits for safe consumption of the food are clearly communicated to the recipient
4. The donor took all reasonably practicable measures to comply with food safety laws when handling food, prior to the donation.
   

Food donors should ensure that the food they donate is safe and suitable for human consumption. Food donors should also undertake checks to ensure food they are donating is not unsafe or unsuitable and that the food items do not show any signs of spoilage.

The Singapore Food Agency has developed a set of Guidelines for Food Donation to assist food donors in understanding and complying with the standard and behaviour expected of them by the law with regard to food safety. More information can be found here: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/docs/default-source/food-donation/guidelines-for-food-donation.pdf. When relevant provisions under the Food Safety and Security Act take effect by 2027, it will be an offence for any person, business, or organisation to supply food that is unsafe. This includes donation or distribution of free food. Offenders will be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 24 months, or a maximum fine of $100,000 if offender is not an individual.

Ultimately, food safety is a joint responsibility. Recipients of donated food must also play their part by adopting good food safety practices such as conducting sensory checks (i.e. see, smell, and touch) before consumption.

Siti Suriani Abdul Majid
Senior Director
Joint Operations Division
Singapore Food Agency

SFA's reply in ZB (8 Nov 2025)

ZB forum letter (30 Oct 2025)