ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota state Rep. Andrew Myers (R-Tonka Bay) recently introduced a bipartisan state bill to extend the shelf life of eggs and reduce food waste.
According to Rep. Myers, food shelves and hunger relief organizations are facing rising demand and limited supplies of protein-rich foods, while safe and nutritious eggs are being discarded due to current labeling restrictions.
Under the current law, eggs can’t be sold or donated past their quality assurance date, which Myers described as freshness measures. However, if this bill gets approved, it will allow eggs to be donated if they:
- Are in their original packaging.
- Were previously candled and graded.
- Are continuously refrigerated.
- Are distributed to the end consumer prior to 30 days past the original quality assurance date.
- Have a new label that includes the name of the distributor, a “distribute by” date, and the statement: “Donated Eggs – Not for Resale”
“This is a practical, bipartisan solution to a very fixable problem,” Myers said in a statement. “Safe, nutritious eggs are being thrown away while food shelves are struggling to meet demand. We can change that while maintaining strong food safety standards.”
This bill is personal to Myers as he explained that he has been a longtime volunteer at his local food shelf and currently serves as a board member. He further humanized this bill by bringing in Jessica Francis, executive director of Open Cupboard, a food bank in Minnesota, to explain why a bill like this is necessary.
“One in five Minnesotans cannot afford [the food] that they need in 2025,” Francis said at the House Agriculture, Finance, and Policy Committee hearing. “Each week, more than 6,000 households turn to our Today’s Harvest markets as a trusted and welcoming food resource.”
“Our daily experience proves that protein is one of the most in-demand and hardest to access food categories for food shoppers,” Francis added. “Eggs are one of the most versatile protein sources that we can offer, making them extremely popular.”
However, because of high grocery prices and limited supply, there haven’t been enough eggs donated to keep the shelves full. Myers hopes that this bill will change that.
“I believe this small fix will have an egg-straordinary impact,” Myers added. “It supports our food shelves, reduces waste, and helps more Minnesotans access healthy food.”
To read the full Minnesota state bill, visit https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/94/2026/0/HF/3579/versions/latest/.
