Gan Thiam Poh on Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill

The Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill will help to cut down on food wastage while ensuring food safety and hygiene for recipients, said MP Gan Thiam Poh. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday (Aug 7), he said the liability waiver will go a long way to empower all stakeholders - from suppliers to donors and volunteers - to save and distribute edible food with peace of mind. Mr Gan pointed out that the amount of food waste in Singapore has increased by about 30 per cent in the last decade. He urged all stakeholders to do their part to anticipate demand more precisely and reduce potential wastage. Mr Gan said that in the face of increasing challenges for food production and transportation, food prices are expected to keep going up. There will be “less room for waste”, he added. Singapore needs to step up efforts to identify points of wastage and move unsold products to the needy expediently, he said. Mr Gan stressed the need for a robust cold chain logistics network to support donors. He pointed out that the unpredictable amounts of donated food from different sources pose a challenge for storage and distribution by volunteers. He asked if the Government could support interested donors by advising and assisting them on food storage and transportation.