Permission to donate eggs past their quality assurance date, the official text

A bill for an act relating to agriculture; allowing eggs to be donated past their quality assurance date; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 29.21, by adding a subdivision; 29.26.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 29.21, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

Subd. 12.

Quality assurance date.

"Quality assurance date" means any date after which the manufacturer or processor reasonably determines that the product may, by spoilage, wiltage, drying, or any other foreseeable and natural phenomenon, lose palatability or desired or nutritive properties.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 29.26, is amended to read:

29.26 EGGS IN POSSESSION OF RETAILER.

(a) All eggs sold or offered for sale at retail must have been candled and graded and must be clearly labeled according to Minnesota consumer grades as established by rule under section 29.23. No eggs shall be sold or offered for sale as "ungraded," "unclassified," or by any other name that does not clearly designate the grade. All eggs in possession of the retailer, either in temporary storage or on display, must be held at a temperature not to exceed 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius).

(b) Grade AA eggs held 31 days past the coded pack date for Grade AA eggs, or Grade A eggs held 46 days past the coded pack date for Grade A eggs, lose their grades and must be removed from sale., except eggs that are past their quality assurance date may be donated to and distributed by charitable food assistance programs if the eggs:

(1) are contained in their original packaging;

(2) have previously been candled and graded;

(3) are continuously refrigerated;

(4) are distributed to the end consumer prior to 30 days past the original quality assurance date; and

(5) are contained in packaging affixed with a label that includes the following information:

(i) the name of the charitable food assistance program distributing the eggs;

(ii) a "distribute by" date of no more than 30 days past the original quality assurance date; and

(iii) the following statement: "Donated Eggs - Not for Resale."